Collective narcissism, political violence and terrorism

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.