Collective narcissism and its social consequences

This paper introduces the concept of collective narcissism - an emotional investment in an

unrealistic belief about the in-group’s greatness – aiming to explain how feelings about an ingroup shape a tendency to aggress against out-groups. The results of 5 studies indicate that

collective, but not individual, narcissism predicts inter-group aggressiveness. Collective

narcissism is related to high private and low public collective self esteem and low implicit

group esteem. It predicts perceived threat from out-groups, unwillingness to forgive outgroups and preference for military aggression over and above social dominance orientation,

right wing authoritarianism, and blind patriotism. The relationship between collective

narcissism and aggressiveness is mediated by perceived threat from out-groups and perceived

insult to the in-group. In sum, the results indicate that collective narcissism is a form of high

but ambivalent group esteem related to sensitivity to threats to the in-group’s image and

retaliatory aggression.