Collective narcissism is an individual predisposition toward political radicalization. It is the belief that the ingroup's exaggerated greatness is insufficiently recognized by others. This belief distorts social cognition, fostering a consistent yet inaccurate narrative in which the ingroup is perpetually wronged by others and therefore justified in responding with hostility. Collective narcissism predicts (1) intergroup violence in escalating conflicts between antagonistic groups of comparable power (e.g., religious, political); (2) resistance or progressive violence, in which historically disadvantaged groups mobilize to challenge existing power structures; and (3) reactionary, supremacist, or state violence, in which traditionally advantaged groups seek to preserve and expand their dominance. Collective narcissists embrace violence for its own sake, derive satisfaction from the misfortunes of others, and are indifferent to the destruction of a world that fails to satisfy their need for recognition.

Why is the turmoil of revolution so often followed by the emergence of dictatorships as oppressive as the one overthrown by the revolution? It may be because national collective narcissism—a demand for external recognition of the exaggerated greatness of one's own nation—as a group-binding national ideology may be as involved in anti-hierarchical dissent as it is in hierarchy-supporting aggression against dissenters. In three studies (total N=4211), we demonstrate that national collective narcissism is (1) positively associated with both right-wing and left-wing authoritarianism; (2) predicts increases in both forms of authoritarianism during the 2023 Polish election campaign; and (3) is indirectly linked to voting for populist-right parties via right-wing authoritarianism, whereas it is negatively linked to voting for those parties via left-wing authoritarianism. Thus, those high in national collective narcissism are more likely to support autocratic, intolerant approaches to both strengthening and challenging the established hierarchical status quo. This suggests some anti-hierarchical aggression may be motivated by a desire to flip rather than attenuate group-based hierarchies.

In four cross-sectional studies (N = 2,228; three preregistered), we hypothesized and found that U.S. American and White collective narcissism is associated with opposition to racial equality, whereas racial collective narcissism among Blacks and Latinx in the U.S. is associated with support for racial equality. In Studies 1 & 2, American national and White racial collective narcissism was positively associated with support for state repression of Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, anti-egalitarianism and legitimization of racial inequality. Black racial collective narcissism was negatively associated with the same variables. In Studies 3 & 4, American national and White racial collective narcissism was positively associated with anti-egalitarianism, support for the alt-right movement and opposition to policies to advance racial minorities. Latinx racial collective narcissism was negatively associated with the same variables. In sum, in the U.S., national collective narcissism among Whites and racial minorities and White racial collective narcissism hinder the pursuit of racial equality. However, Black and Latinx racial collective narcissism is associated with pursuit of racial equality.

Three studies (N = 860) examined whether pleasure of revenge predicts both vengeful and benevolent motivations toward the provocateur. Across all studies, self-reported positive affect was higher, whereas self-reported negative affect was lower after an instance of revenge. Furthermore, the revenge-related positive affect predicted greater subsequent vengeful and benevolent motivations toward the provocateur (but more consistently the former). These findings replicate and extend previous research on affect-improving qualities of revenge. They allow for a more nuanced understanding of the reinforcing nature of vengeful pleasure. Moreover, they suggest that the pleasure of revenge might be harnessed to promote forgiveness.

Collective narcissism is a belief that the ingroup deserves but is denied special treatment and recognition. It is a projection of the narcissistic need to be recognized as better than others on the social level of the self. It is an aspect of ingroup identification, one of the ways group members favour their ingroup. National narcissism is associated with collective narcissism of advantaged national subgroups (e.g., Whites, men). National collective narcissism and collective narcissism of advantaged groups similarly predict discrimination of disadvantaged national subgroups (e.g., racial minorities, women) and legitimization of group-based inequality. Members of disadvantaged groups who endorse national narcissism internalize beliefs legitimizing inequality. Ultraconservative populists propagate national narcissism to undermine the political system that does not sufficiently serve the interests of advantaged groups. National narcissism predicts patriotism and nationalism. Once the three forms of national favouritism are differentiated, it becomes clear that patriotism does not come at the expense of nationalism, discrimination, societal polarization, or erosion of democracy. Instead, it may be a remedy against them.