A 2018 study by researchers Giacomin and Rule found that people can recognize grandiose narcissists** by the distinctiveness of their eyebrows. 1

Grandior Narcissism

Grandior or overt narcissism is a form of narcissism that is associated with extroversion, arrogance, entitlement, dominance, and aggression.

Although narcissists can be likable at first, they lose some of their charm once it becomes clear that they are more interested in getting attention and admiration, and less interested in intimacy and other aspects of a fulfilling relationship.

Since grandiose narcissism is associated with aggression and a tendency to exploit others, it’s important to be able to spot this personality trait in others early on. But how?

Previous research has shown that narcissism can manifest itself in people’s appearance. 2 For example, narcissists are more likely to look attractive; wear expensive, stylish, and flashy clothes; and be well-groomed and neat.

Gender-specific behaviors were also identified. Narcissistic men were less likely to wear glasses. Narcissistic women were more likely to wear makeup, show their chest, and pluck their eyebrows.

Results

Previous research has found that people can detect grandiose narcissism by looking at emotionally neutral faces. The current investigation attempted to identify the specific features of target faces that allow people to do this.

Giacomin and Rule first examined participants’ perceptions of the target faces as a whole. However, participants were able to detect narcissism even in upside-down faces.

The researchers then determined that the cues to identify narcissists lie in the eye area—specifically, the eyebrows.

Using image manipulation, they confirmed their findings, observing that a non-narcissist wearing the eyebrows of a narcissist was judged to be more narcissistic, and a narcissist viewed with the eyebrows of a non-narcissist was judged to be less narcissistic.

They also found that people considered femininity, grooming, and distinctiveness in judging the presence of narcissism in targets’ faces. However, only distinctiveness was associated with accurate judgments. In short, the authors concluded that accurate judgments of narcissism depended primarily on the distinctiveness of the target’s eyebrows.

But…Eyebrows?

Eyebrows help us express a variety of emotions and communicate social messages, even unintended ones. As Giacomin and Roll note, eyebrows “provide high-contrast lines that can reveal involuntary expressions or gestures from a distance.”

In addition, eyebrows can help us recognize faces. In one study, for example, the absence of eyebrows in familiar faces, such as those of celebrities, was found to significantly impact recognition. The absence of eyebrows, unlike the absence of eyes, appeared to make it much more difficult to recognize faces.3

Eyebrows may be particularly important for people who are high in the personality trait of grandiose narcissism. Why? Because they have a strong desire for admiration and appreciation, and as a result, they may “seek to maintain distinctive eyebrows to make it easier for others to notice, recognize, and remember them; thereby increasing their likability and enhancing their highly positive self-views.”

Eyebrows also influence mate choice and attractiveness; Plucking, waxing, tinting, Botox injections, and permanent tattoos are some examples of how people try to accentuate the fullness and arch of their brows.

Since narcissists are highly competitive and often successful at choosing partners (especially when it comes to short-term sexual partners), their eyebrows may “signal this prowess to others.”

**Note: Narcissism can be conceptualized as a mental illness (i.e., a personality disorder) or as a personality trait. While a given individual may or may not meet the criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder, we all have some level of trait narcissism. The authors of the current study also conceptualized narcissism as a personality trait, not a pathology. So when they mention narcissists or non-narcissists, they are simply referring to people who are high or low, respectively, on the trait of narcissism.