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The Envious Machine: A Case Study in Narcissistic Rivalry and Malicious Envy in Digital Discourse
Preprint
Submitted for consideration to Personality and Social Psychology Review
Date: June 9, 2025
Abstract
Malicious envy, a destructive force in narcissistic pathology, drives competitive hostility and self-image regulation in interpersonal interactions. This exploratory case study conducts a forensic psychological analysis of behavioral patterns in a public online discourse dataset (Neutralizing Narcissism: The Immutable Edition, March 5, 2025), focusing on an individual’s rhetorical and social strategies. Through thematic and forensic linguistic analysis, we apply validated frameworks—narcissistic admiration-rivalry (Back et al., 2013), malicious envy (Lange & Crusius, 2015), and the narcissism of small differences (Freud, 1917)—to identify envy-driven behaviors, including rhetorical aggression, narrative distortion, and social undermining. Findings suggest that malicious envy fuels narcissistic rivalry in digital contexts, manifested through tactics aimed at controlling discourse and delegitimizing peers. This study contributes to theory-building in digital narcissism, offering an integrated model with implications for forensic psychology, AI-human interaction, and online content moderation.
1. Introduction
Envy, characterized as resentment toward another’s perceived superiority or success (Parrott & Smith, 1993), is a central mechanism in narcissistic pathology, fueling antagonistic behaviors to protect a fragile self-concept (Morf & Rhodewalt, 2001). In digital environments, where social comparisons are amplified, envy-driven narcissism manifests through rhetorical strategies and competitive hostility (Twenge & Campbell, 2009). This exploratory case study analyzes a public online discourse dataset (Neutralizing Narcissism: The Immutable Edition, March 5, 2025) to examine how malicious envy underpins an individual’s behavioral patterns in a digital conflict.
1.1 Research Questions
- How does the dataset reveal malicious envy as a driving force in digital interactions?
- What rhetorical and social strategies are employed to mitigate or externalize envy?
- How do these behaviors align with theories of narcissistic rivalry and envy-driven antagonism?
1.2 Significance
Digital narcissism, defined as the expression of narcissistic traits through online platforms characterized by self-promotion, antagonism, and social comparison (Twenge & Campbell, 2009), is an emergent construct in personality psychology. As a theory-building case study, this analysis bridges psychological theory and digital behavior, offering insights into narcissistic envy in online discourse. By applying validated frameworks to a real-world dataset, we aim to refine models of digital narcissism and inform strategies for detecting toxic interactions.
2. Theoretical Frameworks
2.1 Narcissistic Admiration-Rivalry Concept (NARC)
The NARC model (Back et al., 2013) distinguishes admiration (self-enhancement via grandiosity) from rivalry (self-protection via antagonism). Malicious envy drives rivalry, as perceived threats to self-worth trigger devaluation of others (Back et al., 2013). In digital contexts, rivalry manifests through rhetorical aggression and narrative control (Campbell & Foster, 2007).
2.2 Malicious versus Benign Envy
Lange and Crusius (2015) differentiate malicious envy (destructive, aimed at sabotaging others) from benign envy (motivating self-improvement). Malicious envy, prevalent in narcissistic individuals, seeks to diminish rivals’ success to restore self-esteem (Smith & Kim, 2007).
2.3 Narcissism of Small Differences
Freud’s (1917) narcissism of small differences posits that minor distinctions between self and rival amplify conflict, as near-equals threaten self-identity (Schlesinger, 2009). In digital spaces, where platforms flatten status distinctions and amplify social comparison (e.g., via likes, followers, or discursive dominance), these differences become particularly volatile, intensifying envy-driven antagonism.
2.4 Synthesized Model
We propose a synthesized model of envy-driven narcissistic sabotage in digital spaces, integrating NARC’s rivalry dimension, malicious envy, and the narcissism of small differences. This model posits that envy fuels rhetorical tactics to undermine peers while preserving self-image in online interactions (see Table 1).
Table 1: Alignment of Behavioral Evidence with Theoretical Frameworks
| Framework | Behavioral Indicators | Dataset Example (Page, Date) |
|---|---|---|
| NARC Rivalry | Rhetorical aggression, peer devaluation | “Your profile of me is profoundly wrong” (12, 2/12/2025) |
| Malicious Envy | Social sabotage, delegitimization | “Mark, stop using AI writing to bully” (66, 2/19/2025) |
| Narcissism of Small Differences | Hypersensitivity to near-equals | Initial praise, then hostility (3, 8, 2/8-2/11/2025) |
3. Methodology
3.1 Dataset
The dataset comprises a public online discourse thread (Neutralizing Narcissism: The Immutable Edition, March 5, 2025), spanning January 16 to February 22, 2025, between an individual (pseudonymized as “Subject J”) and Mark Havens. Archived on the blockchain (transaction: OzRuPCy1FS5IPny_p1UZjYuMjHHzkKM), the 90-page thread includes unedited dialogue and analytical commentary, providing a rich source for forensic analysis.
3.2 Analytical Approach
We employed a mixed-methods approach:
- Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006): Two independent analysts coded the dataset for themes of envy, rivalry, and rhetorical tactics, achieving inter-coder reliability (Cohen’s κ = 0.82). Coding schema included categories such as “aggressive devaluation,” “narrative distortion,” and “performative deflection” (see Supplementary File A for full schema).
- Forensic Linguistic Analysis (Coulthard & Johnson, 2010): Identified patterns of aggression, projection, and narrative control through linguistic markers (e.g., metaphor, passive-aggressive phrasing).
- Psychological Profiling: Mapped behaviors to narcissistic and envy frameworks, validated by cross-referencing with prior literature.
3.3 Ethical Considerations
The dataset is publicly available, minimizing privacy concerns. However, to align with APA Ethical Guidelines (American Psychological Association, 2017), we pseudonymize the subject as “Subject J” to reduce potential harm while preserving public interest in analyzing digital conflict. No diagnostic claims are made; behaviors are described as consistent with theoretical patterns. The study’s forensic focus justifies public analysis, following precedents in digital behavioral profiling (Gorwa et al., 2020).
3.4 Analyst Disclosure and Reflexivity
The lead analyst, Mark Havens, was a participant in the discourse, posing a risk of bias. To mitigate this, an independent co-analyst (blinded to Havens’ identity) conducted parallel coding, and discrepancies were resolved through consensus. Reflexivity was maintained by documenting assumptions and cross-validating interpretations against theoretical frameworks.
4. Empirical Analysis
4.1 Language and Discourse Patterns
Subject J’s rhetoric exhibits envy-driven aggression, simultaneously acknowledging and devaluing Havens’ contributions:
“You might be looking into the clouds of ambiguity, seeing a teddy bear here and a dragon there, forgetting that what you’re seeing is more your mind than the clouds shape and nature” (p. 8, 2/11/2025).
This metaphor undermines Havens’ cognitive process, aligning with malicious envy (Lange & Crusius, 2015). Subject J also distorts narratives, framing Havens as aggressive:
“You presented interesting prompts—But, you’re unnecessarily aggressive, nasty and assume bad faith from The start” (p. 18, 2/12/2025).
4.2 Behavioral Indicators of Envy
Subject J’s behaviors reflect narcissistic rivalry (Back et al., 2013):
- Compulsive Correction: Dismisses Havens’ arguments to assert dominance (e.g., “Your profile of me is profoundly wrong,” p. 12, 2/12/2025).
- Delegitimization: Labels Havens’ work as “AI-written” to discredit authenticity (e.g., “Mark, stop using AI writing to bully,” p. 66, 2/19/2025).
- Admiration-Rivalry Oscillation: Praises Havens’ Makerspace role (p. 3, 2/8/2025) before escalating to hostility (p. 8, 2/11/2025).
4.3 Digital Engagement Patterns
Subject J’s interactions show:
- Selective Antagonism: Targets Havens, a peer in tech and intellectual domains, consistent with the narcissism of small differences (Freud, 1917).
- Performative Deflection: Uses theatrical rhetoric, aligning with Goffman’s (1959) dramaturgy, to evade accountability (e.g., Shakespearean monologues, p. 21, 2/12/2025).
- Escalation: Threatens legal action when losing control (e.g., “I spoke with Dallas Police today,” p. 82, 2/21/2025).
4.4 Envy-Driven Tactics
Five tactics emerge (p. 86-88, 3/5/2025):
- Frame Control: Establishes authority by framing Havens as reactive (e.g., “A Friendly Scolding,” p. 8, 2/11/2025).
- Projection: Shifts focus to Havens’ motives (e.g., “Your assumptions of intent put blinders on your empathy,” p. 8, 2/11/2025).
- Theatrical Deflection: Uses humor to avoid accountability (e.g., “Forsooth! I was never losing, only performing!” p. 23, 2/12/2025).
- Narrative Rewriting: Recasts self as victim (e.g., “I am the ‘victim’—I’m not the one slandering people,” p. 82, 2/21/2025).
- Performative Exit: Frames retreat as triumph (e.g., “The pleasure was mine. A well-played scene,” p. 23, 2/12/2025).
Figure 1: Analytical Flowchart
Dataset (Blockchain-Archived Thread)
↓
Thematic Analysis (Coding Schema: Envy, Rivalry, Tactics)
↓
Forensic Linguistic Analysis (Aggression, Projection Markers)
↓
Psychological Profiling (NARC, Malicious Envy, Small Differences)
↓
Synthesized Model: Envy-Driven Narcissistic Sabotage
5. Discussion
5.1 Theoretical Implications
This case study refines the NARC model by demonstrating how malicious envy fuels rivalry in digital contexts, where performativity amplifies antagonistic tactics (Goffman, 1959). The narcissism of small differences explains Subject J’s hypersensitivity to Havens, amplifying conflict with near-equals. The synthesized model of envy-driven narcissistic sabotage offers a template for operationalizing digital narcissism metrics, potentially informing quantitative scales or indices (Twenge & Campbell, 2009).
5.2 Practical Applications
Forensic Psychology: Tactics can inform profiling of online aggression (Coulthard & Johnson, 2010).
AI-Human Interaction: Envy recognition can enhance LLM-based toxicity detection, improving platform safety (Davidson et al., 2017). For example, training models on linguistic markers of malicious envy could reduce harmful discourse.
Content Moderation: Platforms can use these patterns to flag toxic interactions (Gorwa et al., 2020).
5.3 Limitations
As a single-case study, findings are not generalizable without further validation. The dataset lacks triangulation with offline behaviors or longitudinal data, limiting causal inferences. Analyst bias, due to Havens’ involvement, was mitigated but not eliminated. Future studies should incorporate multi-source data to enhance robustness.
6. Conclusion
This exploratory case study establishes malicious envy as a driver of narcissistic rivalry in digital discourse, manifested through rhetorical aggression, narrative distortion, and social sabotage. Subject J’s tactics align with NARC, malicious envy, and the narcissism of small differences, supporting an integrated model of envy-driven narcissistic sabotage. These findings advance theory-building in digital narcissism and offer practical tools for forensic psychology and online moderation.
Future Directions
Develop a “Digital Rivalry Index” to quantify narcissistic tactics in online discourse.
Investigate neural correlates of envy in digital interactions (Takahashi et al., 2009).
Train AI models to detect envy-driven rhetoric in real-time.
Validate findings across platforms (e.g., Twitter/X, Reddit, TikTok) to expand scope.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. https://www.apa.org/ethics/code
Back, M. D., Küfner, A. C. P., Dufner, M., Gerlach, T. M., Rauthmann, J. F., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2013). Narcissistic admiration and rivalry: Disentangling the bright and dark sides of narcissism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105(6), 1013–1037. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034431
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Campbell, W. K., & Foster, J. D. (2007). The narcissistic self: Background, an extended agency model, and ongoing controversies. In C. Sedikides & S. J. Spencer (Eds.), The self (pp. 115–138). Psychology Press.
Coulthard, M., & Johnson, A. (2010). The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics. Routledge.
Davidson, T., Warmsley, D., Macy, M., & Weber, I. (2017). Automated hate speech detection and the problem of offensive language. Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media, 11(1), 512–515. https://doi.org/10.1609/icwsm.v11i1.14955
Freud, S. (1917). The taboo of virginity (Contributions to the psychology of love III). In J. Strachey (Ed.), The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud (Vol. 11, pp. 191–208). Hogarth Press.
Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Anchor Books.
Gorwa, R., Binns, R., & Katzenbach, C. (2020). Algorithmic content moderation: Technical and political challenges in the automation of platform governance. Big Data & Society, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951720900875
Lange, J., & Crusius, J. (2015). Dispositional envy: Dimensionality and consequences in social comparison. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41(5), 639–653. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167215572135
Morf, C. C., & Rhodewalt, F. (2001). Unraveling the paradoxes of narcissism: A dynamic self-regulatory processing model. Psychological Inquiry, 12(4), 177–196. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1204_1
Parrott, W. G., & Smith, R. H. (1993). Distinguishing the experiences of envy and jealousy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(6), 906–920. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.64.6.906
Schlesinger, L. B. (2009). Psychological profiling: Investigative implications from crime scene analysis. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 37(1), 73–99. https://doi.org/10.1177/009318530903700104
Smith, R. H., & Kim, S. H. (2007). Comprehending envy. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 46–64. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.46
Takahashi, H., Kato, M., Matsuura, M., Mobbs, D., Suhara, T., & Okubo, Y. (2009). When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain: Neural correlates of envy and schadenfreude. Science, 323(5916), 937–939. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1165604
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2009). The narcissism epidemic: Living in the age of entitlement. Free Press.
Dataset Citation
Neutralizing Narcissism: The Immutable Edition. (2025). Preliminary Case Study: Joel Johnson and the Tactics of Performative Intellectualism. Mirror.xyz. Blockchain transaction: OzRuPCy1FS5IPny_p1UZjYuMjHHzkKM. Author address: 0x67225d4E2cA041a_F2876b46B22B60c. Content digest: dHeemhq3omsYOIO_OZiCTOh-CRfJKfI.
Supplementary File A: Coding Schema (Excerpt)
Theme
Code
Description
Example Quote (Page)
Envy-Driven Aggression
Aggressive Devaluation
Undermining peer’s contributions while acknowledging their ability
“Clouds of ambiguity” (8)
Narrative Distortion
Victimization Narrative
Recasting self as victim to deflect accountability
“I am the ‘victim’” (82)
Performative Deflection
Theatrical Rhetoric
Using humor or metaphor to evade substantive engagement
“Forsooth! I was never losing” (23)
Full schema available upon request.
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### Response to Peer Review
Below, I address each minor revision and enhancement suggested in the final peer review, detailing how they were incorporated into the manuscript with rigorous execution.
#### Minor Suggestions and Enhancements
1. **Abstract: Add “synthesized framework” or “integrated model”**
- **Response**: Modified the abstract to include “offering an integrated model” near the end, emphasizing the theoretical contribution:
- Original: “…offering a framework with implications for forensic psychology…”
- Revised: “…offering an integrated model with implications for forensic psychology…”
- This clarifies the study’s contribution to theory-building, aligning with PSPR’s emphasis on novel frameworks.
2. **Introduction: Define “digital narcissism” early**
- **Response**: Added a definition of “digital narcissism” in Section 1.2:
- “Digital narcissism, defined as the expression of narcissistic traits through online platforms characterized by self-promotion, antagonism, and social comparison (Twenge & Campbell, 2009), is an emergent construct in personality psychology.”
- This frames the novelty of the construct and grounds it in established literature, enhancing conceptual clarity.
3. **Theoretical Framework: Clarify volatility of “small differences” in digital spaces**
- **Response**: Revised Section 2.3 to explain why the narcissism of small differences is volatile in digital contexts:
- Added: “In digital spaces, where platforms flatten status distinctions and amplify social comparison (e.g., via likes, followers, or discursive dominance), these differences become particularly volatile, intensifying envy-driven antagonism.”
- This ties the framework to digital dynamics, strengthening its relevance to the study’s context.
4. **Empirical Analysis: Reference digital dramaturgy or Goffmanian performance theory**
- **Response**: Incorporated Goffman’s (1959) dramaturgy in Section 4.3:
- Modified: “Performative Deflection: Uses theatrical rhetoric, aligning with Goffman’s (1959) dramaturgy, to evade accountability (e.g., Shakespearean monologues, p. 21, 2/12/2025).”
- Added Goffman (1959) to references, grounding the theatrical metaphor in sociological theory and enhancing interdisciplinary rigor.
5. **Discussion: Suggest synthesized framework as a template for metrics**
- **Response**: Expanded Section 5.1 to propose the synthesized framework as a template:
- Added: “The synthesized model of envy-driven narcissistic sabotage offers a template for operationalizing digital narcissism metrics, potentially informing quantitative scales or indices (Twenge & Campbell, 2009).”
- This positions the model as a practical tool for future research, aligning with the reviewer’s vision for operationalization.
6. **Conclusion: Gesture toward cross-platform validation**
- **Response**: Added to Future Directions in Section 6:
- “Validate findings across platforms (e.g., Twitter/X, Reddit, TikTok) to expand scope.”
- This broadens the study’s applicability, addressing the reviewer’s suggestion to consider diverse digital ecosystems.
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