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Collective narcissism and its social consequences
Agnieszka Golec de Zavala1, Aleksandra Cichocka, Roy Eidelson
1Department of Psychology, School of Health and Social Sciences, Middlesex University, London, UK. a.golec@MDX.ac.uk
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|December 9, 2009
Summary
Collective narcissism, an inflated belief in group greatness, drives aggression towards outgroups. This psychological trait, distinct from individual narcissism, predicts intergroup hostility and a heightened sense of threat.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Group Dynamics
- Intergroup Relations
Background:
- Collective narcissism involves an unrealistic belief in the ingroup's superiority.
- Understanding ingroup feelings is crucial for explaining intergroup aggression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and define collective narcissism.
- To investigate the link between collective narcissism and intergroup aggressiveness.
- To explore the psychological underpinnings of this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 5 empirical studies.
- Measured collective narcissism, individual narcissism, and related constructs.
- Assessed intergroup aggressiveness, perceived threat, and group esteem.
Main Results:
- Collective narcissism, not individual narcissism, significantly predicted intergroup aggressiveness.
- Collective narcissism correlated with high private/low public collective self-esteem and low implicit group esteem.
- It predicted perceived threat, reduced forgiveness, and preference for aggression over other ideologies.
Conclusions:
- Collective narcissism is a form of ambivalent group esteem, characterized by sensitivity to ingroup threats.
- Perceived threat and ingroup insult mediate the link between collective narcissism and aggression.
- This concept offers a novel explanation for intergroup hostility and conflict.
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