Collective Narcissism and Anti-Semitism in Poland: the Mediating Role of Siege Beliefs and the Conspiracy Stereotype of Jews

Two studies examined the relationship between collective narcissism - an emotional

investment in an unrealistic belief about unparalleled greatness of an in-group (Golec de

Zavala et al., 2009) - and anti-Semitism in Poland. The results indicate that this relationship is

simultaneously mediated by (a) a belief that the in-group is constantly threatened by hostile

intentions of other groups (Polish siege beliefs; Bar-Tal & Antebi, 1992) and (b) a belief that

the Jewish out-group is particularly threatening because its members secretly aim to dominate

the world (the conspiracy stereotype of Jews; Bergmann, 2008; Kofta & S?dek, 2005). The

results confirm earlier findings that collective narcissism is linked to increased sensitivity to

intergroup threat which drives its association with intergroup hostility. The sensitivity to

intergroup threat is composed of beliefs about vulnerability of the in-group and hostility of the

out-group.