Low self-esteem predicts out-group derogation via collective narcissism, but this relationship is obscured by in-group satisfaction.

Abstract

According to social identity theory, low self-esteem motivates group members to derogate out-groups, thus achieving positive in-group distinctiveness and boosting selfesteem. According to the Frankfurt School and status politics theorists, low self-esteem motivates collective narcissism (i.e., resentment for insufficient external recognition of the ingroup's importance), which predicts out-group derogation. Empirical support for these propositions has been weak. We revisit them addressing whether (1) low self-esteem predicts out-group derogation via collective narcissism, and (2) this indirect relationship is only observed after partialling out the positive overlap between collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction (i.e., belief that the in-group is of high value and a reason to be proud). Results based on cross-sectional (Study 1, N = 427) and longitudinal (Study 2, N = 853) designs indicated that self-esteem is uniquely, negatively linked to collective narcissism and uniquely, positively linked to in-group satisfaction. Results based on cross-sectional (Study 3, N = 506; Study 4, N = 1059; Study 5, N = 471), longitudinal (Study 6, N = 410), and experimental (Study 7, N = 253) designs corroborated these inferences. Further, they revealed that the positive overlap between collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction obscures the link between self-esteem and out-group derogation.

Collective Narcissism: Political Consequences of Investing Self‐Worth in the Ingroup’s Image

“…Collective narcissism is preoccupied with the lack of recognition of the ingroup’s uniqueness, while ingroup satisfaction pertains to feeling happy to be the ingroup’s member. The positive overlap between collective narcissism and ingroup satisfaction ranges from r (375) = .24, p < .001 (Golec de Zavala et al , in the United States) and r (109) = .31, p < .01 (Golec de Zavala et al, , in Turkey) to r (568) = . 69, p < .001 (Golec de Zavala, Lantos, & Chester in Poland).…”

“…In addition, existing conceptualization of more and less belligerent forms of positive national feelings (Kosterman & Feshbach, ; Roccas et al, ; Schatz et al, ) do not reliably uncover the potential of constructive national feelings such as pride, satisfaction, and attachment to predict positive attitudes toward national minorities and national outgroups. In contrast, collective narcissism reliably supresses the link between positive ingroup identification and national ingroup satisfaction and positive (or at least neutral) attitudes towards national outgroups (Golec de Zavala et al, , , ). In addition, collective narcissism suppresses the negative relationship between constructive patriotism and outgroup derogation and mediates the relationship between blind patriotism and outgroup derogation (Golec de Zavala et al, ).…”

“…Our studies clarify that ingroup identification is associated with intergroup hostility only inasmuch as it overlaps with the collective narcissist belief about the ingroup. Once collective narcissism is removed, positive ingroup identification is often related to outgroup tolerance (Cichocka, Dhont, & Makwana, ; Golec de Zavala et al, , , , ). This suggests that the current presence of collective narcissism in many national narrations precludes intergroup tolerance and is likely to lead to increased intergroup tensions.…”

“…Ingroup satisfaction with collective narcissism partialled out can be interpreted as a positive evaluation of the ingroup, independent of concerns about external recognition and resilient to threats and criticism. Indeed, unlike collective narcissism, residual ingroup satisfaction does not predict hypersensitivity to threat to the ingroup’s image (Golec de Zavala et al, ); it is not related to beliefs about outgroup’s hostile intentions towards the ingroup (Dyduch‐Hazar, Mroziński, & Golec de Zavala, ; Golec de Zavala & Cichocka, ), revengefulness (Dyduch‐Hazar, Mroziński, Cypryańska, & Golec de Zavala, ), nor to outgroup derogation (and it sometimes predicts outgroup tolerance; Golec de Zavala et al, , , ).…”

“…Rather than being indiscriminately negative towards all outgroups, people who hold collective narcissist belief about their ingroup are prejudiced towards outgroups that are construed as threatening to the ingroup’s privileged position. For example, Polish collective narcissism is related to anti‐Semitism (Golec de Zavala et al, ; Golec de Zavala & Sedikides, ), one of the most prevalent forms of prejudice in Poland (Kroet, ). Jewish people are stereotyped as hostile and threatening towards ethnic Poles because they ostensibly want to dominate Poland and the world (Golec de Zavala & Cichocka, ).…”