Polish psychologist wins Ig Nobel: How praising intelligence sparks momentary narcissism
Polish psychologist Professor Marcin Zajenkowski received the prestigious, albeit humorous, Ig Nobel Prize. The jury recognized his research on the link between praise for intelligence and narcissism. Experimental results show that simple words of appreciation can evoke feelings of specialness—and even momentary narcissism.
Prof. Marcin Zajenkowski of the University of Warsaw, along with Prof. Gilles Gignak of the University of Western Australia, received the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology for their article published in the journal Intelligence, presenting the results of their research on the impact of intelligence feedback on narcissism.
As Professor Zajenkowski explained:
We have shown that by telling someone they are intelligent (or not very intelligent), we can influence their momentary level of narcissism – boosting their self-confidence, self-esteem, and even their thoughts about their own greatness or uniqueness.
The study involved 361 people who, after taking an IQ test, were randomly informed that their score was either above or below average. The results were clear: those praised for their intelligence began to believe more in their wisdom and uniqueness, while those given negative assessments lost confidence.
Interestingly, individuals with pronounced narcissistic traits were more resistant to negative information. This may suggest that narcissism can act as a protective shield against criticism, noted Professor Zajenkowski.
The Ig Nobel Prize, awarded since 1991 by the Annals of Improbable Research, honors research that "first makes you laugh, then makes you think." This year's theme at the Boston ceremony was digestion, and the awards were presented by actual Nobel laureates. Winners received a symbolic statuette depicting a stomach with faces.
Professor Zajenkowski admitted that he initially had doubts about the award: " Until now, I associated the Ig Nobel Prize solely with something funny. But when I started reading more about this award, I noticed that the key concept here is self-distance, and that resonates with me."
Research on narcissism has been a major area of interest for Professor Zajenkowski for years. He also analyzes how parents perceive their children's intelligence and how this influences their personality development.
For every parent, their child is unique. However, this is about shaping an inappropriate image of the child, one without weaknesses. This builds a belief in the child's greatness, one that is not backed by any real achievements," he emphasized.
According to the researcher, narcissism is a psychological construct that has been known for about a hundred years, but only in recent decades has it received intensive scientific exploration.
This is an area where much can still be done. And that's why I'm working on it," he concluded.
While the highlighted studies may raise a smile, their implications are serious. Words about intelligence can influence our well-being, motivation, and actions—regardless of our actual IQ level.
Our results show that telling someone they are stupid or unintelligent can have wider consequences, warned Professor Zajenkowski.
Source: PAP/MH
Source: PAP/own work Updated: 20/09/2025 15:30
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