Large-group Narcissism and Political Leaders with Narcissistic Personality Organization

Abstract

<P>Massive traumas at the hands of “others” lead to shared humiliation, shame, fear of being assertive, and difficulty mourning for large ethnic, national, or religious groups. Large-group narcissistic injury may lead to a corresponding defensive increase of shared narcissism linked to large-group identity. Once the traumatic event is over — following the end of an occupation by the “other,” the removal of the oppressive regime, or the break-up of a political system — smoldering narcissistic injuries among the former sufferers and among their descendants through transgenerational transmissions can spark new large-group processes of “entitlement ideologies.” Such processes, with or without a change in function, may remain active for generations, at times with malignant and destructive consequences. When exacerbated, they play a role in the creation of an atmosphere that encourages leaders with narcissistic personality organization to reactivate and manipulate “entitlement ideologies” and related emotions within the large group. This, in turn, increases the shared narcissistic investment in large-group identity and changes its characteristics. Such leaders can function to repair old wounds, returning mature pride and confidence to the group, or conversely, narcissistic leaders with an underlying paranoid orientation can foment violence and massive destruction in the name of “ethnic cleansing” and genocide. </P><H4>ABOUT THE AUTHORS</H4><P>Vamik D. Volkan, MD, is Senior Erikson Scholar, Erik H. Erikson Institute, Austen Riggs Center, Stockbridge, Massachusetts. J. Christopher Fowler, PhD, is Director of Research, Erik H. Erikson Institute. </P><P>Address correspondence to: Vamik Volkan, MD, 25 Main St., Stockbridge, MA.01262 </P><P>Dr. Volkan and Dr. Fowler have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.</P><P><H4>EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES</H4><OL><P><LI>Describe large-group narcissism and how to detect it. </LI></P><P><LI>Outline the role of “chosen traumas” in sustaining and fomenting large-group narcissism. </LI></P><P><LI>Describe the interplay between narcissistic leaders and the need for a savior in large groups. </LI></OL>