Collective Narcissism Scale

The Collective Narcissism Scale, introduced by Agnieszka Golec de Zavala and colleagues in 2009, measures an emotional investment in an unrealistic belief about an in-group's greatness coupled with a demand that this greatness be recognized by others. Unlike secure group identification, collective narcissism is defensive and contingent on external validation, and it predicts intergroup hostility, perceived threat, prejudice, conspiracy belief, and support for aggression toward out-groups. The scale is widely applied to national identity, where it distinguishes a grandiose, grievance-driven nationalism from ordinary patriotism or in-group satisfaction.