Narcissists Are Vulnerable to Conspiracy Claims
Narcissism is associated with a number of specific traits. These vary from person
to person but can include such characteristics as a heightened sense of
self-importance, feelings of entitlement, low self-esteem,
heightened suspiciousness, insecure need for frequent affirmation, and
an acute desire to feel special. The same traits can also manifest at
the group level in the form of "collective narcissism" (de Zavala et
al., 2009). Here, people believe that some group they identify with or
belong to is especially important, special, and in need of constant
validation.
Whether expressed individually or collectively, narcissistic traits
predispose people toward being especially receptive to conspiracy
theories. For example, a heightened sense of distrust
and lack of humility could make conspiracy clams seem more plausible
and make questioning them less likely, especially once they are
embraced. Other characteristics, such as the need to feel unique or
better than others, can have similar results. Endorsing conspiracy
theories can help narcissists feel like they have access to secret
information, that they are morally or intellectually superior to others,
or simply that they believe in something that helps them stand out as
different from the crowd.
Mainly three facets underlying narcissism are, via different processes, associated with conspiracy beliefs.
These three facets of narcissism are (see Figure 1):
- Agentic extraversion: Related to being assertive, self-confident, charming, and reward-seeking. This is how narcissists try to gain the admiration of others.
- Antagonism: Associated with being arrogant, callous, dishonest,
distrustful, exploitative, and entitled. This is how narcissists defend
themselves against threats and compete with rivals.
- Neuroticism: Linked with the experience of shame, low self-esteem, negative emotions, and relationship difficulties
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