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In two pre-registered studies, we investigated the relationship of left-wing authoritarianism with the ego-focused trait of narcissism. Based on existing research, we expected individuals with higher levels of left-wing authoritarianism to also report higher levels of narcissism. Further, as individuals with leftist political attitudes can be assumed to be striving for social equality, we expected left-wing authoritarianism to also be positively related to prosocial traits, but narcissism to remain a significant predictor of left-wing authoritarianism above and beyond those prosocial dispositions. We investigated our hypotheses in two studies using cross-sectional correlational designs. Two nearly representative US samples (Study 1: N = 391; Study 2: N = 377) completed online measures of left-wing authoritarianism, the Dark Triad personality traits, and two variables with a prosocial focus (i.e., altruism and social justice commitment). In addition, we assessed relevant covariates (i.e., age, gender, socially desirable responding, and virtue signaling). The results of multiple regression analyses showed that a strong ideological view, according to which a violent revolution against existing societal structures is legitimate (i.e., anti-hierarchical aggression), was associated with antagonistic narcissism (Study 1) and psychopathy (Study 2). However, neither dispositional altruism nor social justice commitment was related to left-wing anti-hierarchical aggression. Considering these results, we assume that some leftist political activists do not actually strive for social justice and equality but rather use political activism to endorse or exercise violence against others to satisfy their own ego-focused needs. We discuss these results in relation to the dark-ego-vehicle principle.
The term “Dark Triad” refers to a trio of negative personality traits—narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—which share some common malevolent features. The construct was coined by researchers Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002.
The construct was coined by researchers Delroy L. Paulhus and Kevin M. Williams in 2002.
The study also suggested that some hijack social causes to make it about themselves.That is certainly true with the LGBT community... they latch onto whatever cause is out there, and manage to twist it and make it all about themselves... “We are also oppressed” they say, whenever a genuine cause comes to light. In many cases, the original cause is left behind, and only the LGBT agenda is pushed forward. A big example is the Colombian peace process and the People's Army falling apart... everyone now cheers that an ex-guerrilla is playing daddy in the Colombian senate, but President Petro is one of the biggest LGBT promoters in Colombian history... The original cause is left behind, whilst the self-worshiping male-male / female-female obsession is taking over every facet of society.
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