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Personal control decreases narcissistic but increases non-narcissistic in-group positivity

Cichocka, Aleksandra, Golec de Zavala, Agnieszka, Marchlewska, Marta, Bilewicz,, Michał, Jaworska, Manana, Olechowski, Mateusz (2017) Personal control decreases narcissistic but increases non-narcissistic in-group positivity. Journal of Personality, 86 (3). pp. 465-480. ISSN 0022-3506. E-ISSN 1467-6494. (doi:10.1111/jopy.12328) (KAR id:61809)

Abstract

Objective: We examined the effects of control motivation on in-group positivity. Past research suggests that people compensate for low personal control by increasing support for social ingroups. We predicted that the effect of personal control on in-group positivity would depend on the type of in-group positivity. Low personal control should increase compensatory, narcissistic in-group positivity, while high personal control should increase secure, non-narcissistic in-group positivity.

Method: These hypotheses were tested in a cross-sectional survey (Study 1, n= 1083, 54% female, Mage= 47.68), two experiments (Study 2, n= 105, 50% female, Mage = 32.05; Study 3, n=154, 40% female, Mage= 29.93) and a longitudinal survey (Study 4, n= 398, 51% female, Mage= 32.05).

Results: In all studies personal control was negatively associated with narcissistic in-group positivity but positively associated with non-narcissistic in-group positivity. The longitudinal survey additionally showed that the positive relationship between personal control and non-narcissistic in-group positivity was reciprocal. Moreover, both types of in-group positivity differentially mediated between personal control and out-group attitudes: narcissistic in-group positivity predicted negative attitudes and non-narcissistic positivity predicted positive attitudes.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the role of individual motivation in fostering different types of in-group positivity and intergroup outcomes.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/jopy.12328
Uncontrolled keywords: personal control, in-group identification, collective narcissism, defensiveness, prejudice, Social Psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Funders: National Science Center (https://ror.org/03ha2q922)
Depositing User: Aleksandra Cichocka
Date Deposited: 22 May 2017 08:10 UTC
Last Modified: 25 Jan 2024 12:03 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61809 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Cichocka, Aleksandra.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-1586
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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