The relationship between protégé narcissistic entitlement and protégé mentoring outcomes is examined among a total sample of 132 protégés employed in a variety of settings. Narcissistic entitlement (NE) refers to a dispositional variable that reflects preoccupation with the expectation of special and preferential treatment from others. Results indicate that protégés with greater NE report relationships of shorter duration, less career mentoring support, lower relationship quality, and greater negative mentoring experiences than do protégés with lesser NE. Additionally, protégé NE moderated the relationship between mentor commitment and relationship quality such that the relationship was stronger for protégés higher in NE than for protégés lower in NE. NE was not related to whether participants had experience as a protégé. Implications include the need for expanded education regarding mentoring relationships that take into account the role the individual plays in the relationship.
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