Collective narcissism moderates the effect of in-group image threat on intergroup hostility.

Abstract

Results of four experiments demonstrated that under in group image threat collective narcissism predicts retaliatory intergroup hostility. Under in group criticism (vs. praise) collective narcissists expressed intention to harm the offending out group but not other, non offending out groups. This effect was specific to collective narcissism and was replicated in studies that accounted for the overlap between collective narcissism and individual narcissism, in group positivity (in group identification, blind and constructive patriotism), social dominance orientation and right wing authoritarianism. The link between collective narcissism and retaliatory intergroup hostility under in group image threat was found in the context of national identity and international relations and in the context of a social identity defined by university affiliation. Study 4 demonstrated that the relationship between collective narcissism and intergroup hostility was mediated by the perception of in group criticism as personally threatening. The results advance our understanding of the mechanism driving the link between collective narcissism and intergroup hostility. They indicate that Threatened Egotism Theory can be extended into the intergroup domain.

‘They will not control us’: Ingroup positivity and belief in intergroup conspiracies

“…Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that collective narcissism, a defensive form of in-group positivity (Golec de Zavala et al 2009;Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, & Iskra-Golec, 2013), predicts the endorsement of conspiratorial explanations for events that are potentially threatening to the in-group. Study 2 further indicated that collective narcissism is linked to beliefs in conspiracy theories due to increased sensitivity to threat.…”

On Self–Love and Outgroup Hate: Opposite Effects of Narcissism on Prejudice via Social Dominance Orientation and Right–Wing Authoritarianism

“…in terms of their intellectual skills) rather than on those reflecting their morality (Campbell, Rudich, & Sedikides, ). Indeed, several authors have reported a positive correlation between narcissism and SDO (Carnahan & McFarland, ; Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, & Iskra‐Golec, ; Hodson et al, ; Zitek & Jordan, ). Therefore, we expected that narcissism would be positively related to greater endorsement of ideological attitudes associated with power and dominance (indicated by SDO), and that this effect should be most pronounced when we observe narcissistic self‐evaluation (i.e.…”

Understanding defensive and secure in-group positivity: The role of collective narcissism

“…Furthermore, collective narcissism tends to be associated with defensive individual self-evaluations. Individual and collective narcissism are usually weakly to moderately positively correlated, with rs between -.09 (Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, & Iskra-Golec, 2013; Study 3, Polish students) and .44 (Cichocka, Maciejewski, & Cisłak, 2016;Study 3, Polish adults). This positive association is not surprising given that the Collective Narcissism Scale was based on items measuring individual narcissism.…”

“…Furthermore, collective narcissism tends to be positively associated with in-group identification (e.g., rs ranged from .17 for university to .66 for nationality assessed among Polish students; Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, & Iskra-Golec, 2013). Positive correlations were also noted between scores on the Collective Narcissism Scale and Cameron s (2004) Social Identification Scale (e.g., Golec de Zavala, Cichocka, & Bilewicz, 2013) as well as Leach and colleagues (2008) in-group identification scale Golec de Zavala et al, in press).…”