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April 11, 2005
Narcissism And Political Belief
Dr. Sanity has some fascinating thoughts on the psychological roots of political belief. In a post entitled "Narcissism and Society", she explains what narcissism is, gives a little of its history, and shows how, in addition to being a clinical personality disorder, it also can be a motivating factor in one's political beliefs:
For many on the Left side of the political spectrum, it is axiomatic that Narcissism is inextricably linked to business, Capitalism, individualism, and the pursuit of profit. The Left has idealized certain social and political systems because they supressed the individual and elevated the state, insisting that individuals had no right to exist for their own selves, but only to serve others.
She goes on to examine a different strain of narcissism that is rooted in idealism rather than personal selfishness:
This second kind of Narcissism [...] is disguised with a veneer of concern for others. But it is equally—if not more—destructive and causative of human suffering, death and misery. [...] The "grandiose" Narcissism is the stimulus for individual tyrants, while the "idealistic" Narcissism leads to groups imposing their will on others. We will talk more of this in Part II.
Well worth reading in its entirety.
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