Narcissists avoid superior competition while secure people seek it out

Evidence

Moreover, narcissists are overly competitive, resent others who are successful in the same pursuits, and are disconcerted when others are clearly superior to them in some way. And they desperately cling to unrealistic images of themselves by carefully avoiding experiences that challenge their inflated self-image. For example, a narcissist who fancies himself a great runner might be at the track every day with the casual joggers from the neighborhood. He goes to great lengths to ensure the joggers know he can run faster than they can, and he works hard to solicit their admiration, but he’s not likely to be found anywhere near the track when aspiring Olympic athletes drop by. Facing more able competition would paint a much less flattering picture of his actual skill and would fail to elicit the adulation that comes from zipping past the locals. In contrast, a runner with secure self-esteem would be proud of her accomplishments but more interested in self-improvement than winning. She would be eager to run with Olympic athletes; that way, she could get inspired, learn from them, and get an accurate gauge of her skills. — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 267

Categorization

• XREF: The runner metaphor parallels the shame/deference dynamics in things like Pride and Prejudice or status-seeking social structures - a concrete behavioral signature distinguishing fragile from secure self-worth.