Abstract

We investigated whether collective narcissism (i.e., believing that the in-group is exceptional but insufficiently recognized by others) and in-group satisfaction (i.e., believing that the in-group is a source of satisfaction) have opposite, unique associations with intergroup aggression via belief in the hedonistic function of revenge (i.e., an expectation of emotional reward from harming others in response to feeling oneself harmed). Results of two studies conducted in Poland (N = 675) found that collective narcissism is positively related to belief in the hedonistic function of revenge, whereas in-group satisfaction is negatively related, and both are related to intergroup aggression. These relationships were found only when the overlap between collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction was partialled out. The results shed a new light on the mechanisms linking in-group positivity to out-group derogation, and highlight the importance of investigating revenge motivations in the intergroup relations.

Highlights

  • Revenge is a common human motivation [1], it has been relatively understudied in the domain of intergroup relations

  • Results supported Hypothesis 2: Collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction mutually suppressed their opposite associations with belief in the hedonistic function of revenge

  • We examined whether two alternative beliefs about the in-group: Collective narcissism and ingroup satisfaction predict aggression against out-group members via belief in the hedonistic function of revenge

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Summary

Introduction

Revenge is a common human motivation [1], it has been relatively understudied in the domain of intergroup relations. We examined whether collective narcissism, i.e., a belief that the exceptionality of one’s own group is insufficiently appreciated by others [2] and in-group satisfaction, i.e., a belief that the in-group is the reason to be proud [3] make distinct predictions for intergroup aggression via belief in the hedonistic function of revenge, i.e., an expectation of a momentary good feeling from harming others in response to feeling oneself harmed: Collective narcissism is positively associated, whereas in-group satisfaction is negatively associated, with belief in the hedonistic function of revenge and, with intergroup aggression (Hypothesis 1). Because previous findings showed that collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction act as mutual suppressors [2], we tested whether collective narcissism and in-group satisfaction mutually suppress each other’s associations with belief in the hedonistic function of revenge (Hypothesis 2).

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