Collective Narcissism: Political Consequences of Investing Self‐Worth in the Ingroup’s Image

Abstract

This article proposes a new theoretical framework for the reviewed state-of-the-art research on collective narcissism-the belief that the ingroup's exceptionality is not sufficiently appreciated by others. Collective narcissism is motivated by the investment of an undermined sense of self-esteem into the belief in the ingroup's entitlement to privilege. Collective narcissism lies in the heart of populist rhetoric. The belief in ingroup's exceptionality compensates the undermined sense of self-worth, leaving collective narcissists hypervigilant to signs of threat to the ingroup's position. People endorsing the collective narcissistic belief are prone to biased perceptions of intergroup situations and to conspiratorial thinking. They retaliate to imagined provocations against the ingroup but sometimes overlook real threats. They are prejudiced and hostile. Deficits in emotional regulation, hostile attribution bias, and vindictiveness lie behind the robust link between collective narcissism and intergroup hostility. Interventions that support the regulation of negative emotions, such as experiencing self-transcendent emotions, decrease the link between collective narcissism and intergroup hostility and offer further insights into the nature of collective narcissism.

Low self-esteem predicts out-group derogation via collective narcissism, but this relationship is obscured by in-group satisfaction.

“…Thus, differentiating between ingroup satisfaction and collective narcissism can deepen understanding of the interplay between evaluation of the in-group and evaluation of the self. (For a more comprehensive discussion of why in-group satisfaction is a most crucial comparison to collective narcissism, see Golec de Zavala, Dyduch-Hazar, & Lantos, 2019). have a lot to be proud of," "It is pleasant to be Polish," and "Being Polish gives me a good feeling" (α = .93, M = 4.97, SD = 1.30).…”

Male, National, and Religious Collective Narcissism Predict Sexism

“…Collective narcissism prescribes distrust and hostility as normative in intergroup relations, whereas national in-group satisfaction prescribes equality and intergroup tolerance, especially after its overlap with collective narcissism is partialled out (Golec de Zavala et al 2016. Whereas collective narcissism predicts intergroup hostility in response to perceived threat to the in-group's positive image, in-group satisfaction does not (Golec de Zavala et al 2013b). Whereas collective narcissism is associated with prejudice toward minorities (ethnic, Lyons et al 2010;sexual, Mole et al 2020), national in-group satisfaction is not (Golec de Zavala et al 2013a.…”

Collective Narcissism and In-Group Satisfaction Are Associated With Different Emotional Profiles and Psychological Wellbeing

“…Collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction pertain to positive beliefs people may hold about the status and value of the social identity they share. Collective narcissism is a belief that the in-group is exceptional, entitled to privileged treatment but not sufficiently recognized by others (Golec de Zavala, 2018; Golec de Zavala et al, 2019a) 1 . In-group satisfaction is a belief that the in-group and one’s membership in it are the reasons to be proud of Leach et al (2008).…”