WILL YOUR MATE BE POACHED BY A NARCISSIST?

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Narcissists are not necessarily on the hunt for partners who are already in a relationship--but that does not appear to stand in their way, either, suggests research in the journal PLOS ONE.

"I thought it was possible that there might be something appealing about the 'game' of mate poaching that might appeal to narcissists, because they are known to play games," says researcher Amy Brunell, but evidence of that type of pattern did not emerge in the study. 'They seem to not discriminate between those in relationships and those who are single. It could be that they just go after whoever appeals to them without regard for relationship status."

Previous research has shown that people in general--not just narcissists--tend to perceive others who are in relationships as more desirable. Combine that with the traits of narcissism, Brunell figured, and you might have a recipe for aggressive "mate poaching"--the scientific term for making a play for someone already in a relationship.

Narcissism is marked by selfishness...