Support for war is associated with narcissistic personality traits

A recent study conducted in Poland has revealed how different forms of narcissism relate to people’s views and intentions about war and peace. The researchers discovered that certain narcissistic traits align with more accepting attitudes toward war. The findings were published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

Narcissism is a personality trait that describes an inflated sense of self-importance and a desire for recognition and admiration. Grandiose narcissism can be divided into four types: admiration, rivalry, sanctity, and heroism. Admiration focuses on seeking status and uniqueness. Rivalry is more aggressive, focusing on putting others down and seeing them as threats.

Sanctity relates to seeing oneself as deeply moral and kind, while heroism focuses on being a protector and savior within a group. The researchers wanted to understand how these four types relate to the belief that war can be acceptable or desirable, and to the belief that peace should be promoted and preserved.

The researchers conducted a study involving 789 adults in Poland, roughly half of whom were men. The average age was about 46, and participants came from a range of educational and occupational backgrounds. All participants responded to a series of questionnaires online. These questionnaires measured the four forms of narcissism, as well as participants’ attitudes and intentions toward war and peace. The researchers also measured their basic values, focusing on self-enhancement (valuing status and dominance), self-transcendence (valuing others’ well‑being), openness to change (valuing new ideas and freedom), and conservation (valuing tradition and stability).

Each participant responded to questions about how strongly they agreed or disagreed with statements about themselves, their values, and their attitudes toward war and peace. These statements included ideas about defending one’s country, seeing war as sometimes necessary, joining a peace protest, or promoting international understanding. The researchers used statistical analyses to compare responses across the four narcissistic forms.

The researchers found that individuals high in admiration tended to have a stronger acceptance of war. This form of narcissism is associated with seeking status and glory, making it more compatible with pro‑war beliefs. These individuals were also less accepting of peace, although this link was weaker and influenced in part by a desire for openness and self‑expression.

Those high in rivalry expressed the strongest connections with accepting war. Rivalry, with its focus on aggression and defeating others, was also linked with weaker support for peace. The researchers found that these connections were shaped by lower concern for others’ well‑being and resistance to traditional or communal values. People high in rivalry were less inclined to support peace-promoting behavior and more accepting of aggression and conflict as a means to an end.

The sanctity form of narcissism, which revolves around seeing oneself as a deeply moral person, was associated with a greater preference for peace. This link was strengthened by higher concern for others’ well‑being, openness to new ideas, and a respect for traditional, communal values. People high in sanctity were more likely to disagree with war and more inclined to support peace-oriented behaviors, like attending a peace rally.

The heroism form of narcissism, focused on seeing oneself as a protector, was associated with higher acceptance of war. At the same time, this form was linked with more active engagement in both pro‑peace and pro‑war behaviors. People high in heroism felt a strong sense of responsibility to protect their community, regardless of the means required, making their stance more complex. Their belief in the necessity of action shaped their acceptance of war and peace alike.

The researchers also explored how these connections worked through personal values. They found that accepting war was largely explained by prioritizing self‑enhancement over self‑transcendence and being less open to change or less committed to traditional communal ideals. On the other hand, accepting peace was strengthened by higher self‑transcendence, openness to new ideas, and respect for communal traditions. These patterns shed light on how different forms of narcissism align with certain values, making people more likely to accept or reject war and peace.

“Grandiose narcissism (except for sanctity) predisposes individuals to accept war, but only antagonistic forms are related to rejection of peace. Prioritization or rejection of self-transcendence, openness to change, and conservation values partly explains relationships,” the researchers concluded.

The researchers were cautious about interpreting their results because this was a cross‑sectional survey conducted in a specific context — Poland during a period when the Russo‑Ukrainian war was intensifying. The heightened tensions and psychological distress associated with this conflict could have influenced participants’ responses. The results might also vary in different countries or times, and long‑term studies would be required to confirm the patterns.

The study, “Falcons or pigeons? Grandiose narcissism, personal values, and attitudes toward war and peace,” was authored by Eryk Kowalski, Piotr P. Brud, and Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska.