"Collective narcissism is increasing intergroup tensions and retaliatory intergroup aggression"
Collective narcissism—which we interpret as resentment that the ingroup’s entitlement to privilege is not sufficiently appreciated by others—has been shown as a robust predictor of intergroup hostility. My panel brings together recent research on the consequences of collective narcissism such as nationalism, support for green-washing campaigns, and hostility towards out-groups. Collective narcissism is a reaction to threatened in-group distinctiveness and has been found to motivate hostile attitudes towards pro-environmental action and out-groups. It also increases the pain of vicarious social exclusion among members of an excluded social group which inspires their retaliatory hostility. All these findings show that differentiating for the narcissistic aspect of national identity advances our understanding of the mechanisms underlying intergroup hostility.
This symposium will take place on 14th July 6.50 PM (CET) in Virtual Room 5.
Presentation 1: Collective narcissism as a basis for nationalism
Christopher M. Federico (University of Minnesota Twin Cities) and Agnieszka Golec de Zavala (Goldsmiths, University of London, SWPS University, Poznań)
Chris and Agnieszka found that collective narcissism is a stronger predictor of nationalism than mere satisfaction with the national ingroup is, and that collective narcissism dynamically constrains nationalism (but not vice versa) in panel analyses.
Presentation 2: Words not deeds: National collective narcissism is differently associated with promoting pro-environmental group image and pro-environmental group actions
Aleksandra Cisłak (SWPS University, Warsaw) Aleksandra Cichocka (University of Kent), Adrian Wójcik (University of Nicolaus Copernicus, Toruń) and Taciano Milfont (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)
Aleksandra and colleagues investigated how different forms of national identification are related to support for green-washing campaigns versus collective pro-environmental actions. Results of four studies show that national collective narcissism not only predicts support for governmental green-washing campaign, but also negatively predicts support for collective pro-environmental actions that would require vast group resources. They also demonstrate that the undesirable effect of national collective narcissism on support for anti-environmental policies can be reduced by means of self-affirmation intervention.
Presentation 3: Collective narcissism strengthens the effects of intergroup exclusion on retaliatory aggression via emotional distress of exclusion
Agnieszka Golec de Zavala (Goldsmiths, University of London; SWPS University, Poznań) and Dorottya Lantos (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Being excluded hurts and often elicits retaliatory aggression. Agnieszka and Dorottya demonstrate that vicarious exclusion, via in-group membership, also hurts and produces intergroup aggression. Vicarious intergroup exclusion was manipulated by asking participants to observe a Cyberball game in which their national in-group is excluded (vs. included) by an out-group while participants themselves do not participate in the game. The results of five experiments show that vicarious intergroup exclusion increases aggression via distressed mood and this effect is stronger on higher levels of collective narcissism.
Presentation 4: An intergroup approach to collective narcissism: Intergroup threat and hostility
Rita Guerra (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa - ISCTE-IUL), Kinga Bierwiaczonek (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa - ISCTE-IUL), Marina Ferreira (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa - ISCTE-IUL), Agnieszka Golec de Zavala (Goldsmiths, University of London; SWPS University, Poznań), Constantine Sedikides (University of Southampton), Tim Wildschut (University of Southampton), Georgios Abakoumkin (University of Thessaly)
In three experiments Rita and colleagues tested if integrated, i.e., realistic and symbolic (Study 1, N = 213) and distinctiveness (Study 2, N = 141; Study 3, N = 280) threats trigger collective narcissism and through that relate to intergroup hostility. Results showed that intergroup threat, specifically distinctiveness threat, seems to be an important predictor of collective narcissism, and through that a predictor of intergroup hostility. This highlights the importance of considering threats to social identity to better understand the causes and consequences of collective narcissism.
