Why the Belief That Our Nation Is Exceptional Ultimately Causes Us Stress
The belief that one’s own nation is exceptional yet underappreciated by others lies at the heart of so-called national narcissism. Unlike patriotism, it is characterized by a sense of entitlement to recognition and a constant dissatisfaction with how that nation is perceived by the outside world. Previous research has shown that people with higher levels of national narcissism are more likely to experience stress or depressive symptoms, but it remained unclear which was the cause and which was the effect. A new study by our member Michal Mužík sought to capture how national narcissism and negative emotions influence each other over time.
