Societal narcissism is a maladaptive form of narcissism. As the name implies, it refers to a person’s inflated perceptions of themselves within an environment larger than just their immediate environment.
LMFT’s Dr. Patrice Le Joy explains, “What makes it sectarian is that for these people this narcissism occurs in societal social situations that may be centered in charitable or philanthropic areas or may just manifest as people trying too hard to appear as good, caring friends or co-workers.”
If you are a bit confused by this idea or unsure how the cult narcissist differs from other types of narcissism, read on for a deeper understanding. We’ll cover more about what this term means, the causes of factional narcissism, and how this personality can be recognized.
Define sectarian narcissism
Socialized narcissism became more popular as a concept after a study on the topic was published in 2018 in the Journal of Research in Personality.
The study notes, “These findings support the idea that sectarian narcissism may represent an attempt to elicit positive evaluations from others in the absence of a true societal self-view.”1 This means that the sectarian narcissist feels exclusively self-satisfied. By the way they perceive themselves to be seen for their contributions to others.
“Societal narcissism is defined by the same sense of entitlement and grandeur that we define as traditional narcissism,” Le Joy explains. The main difference is that the cult narcissist moves outside of himself to validate his worth. The end result of these actions, Le Joy says, is that they “allow the cult narcissist to be seen as someone who actually works to help others and receives the associated praise.”
Sectarian narcissists seek praise
Unlike well-meaning, benevolent people, a cult narcissist is someone who acts well and helps others solely in order to get praise for their actions or to be seen as morally superior.
Social narcissists may need this praise from their community because they do not believe in their own worth, and they need to get this praise from others.
Characteristics of sectarian narcissism
It can be difficult to know that someone is a confessional narcissist. That’s because at first, their personality traits might make them seem like nice, caring people. However, as you get to know him, it may become clear that this person is not as great as he first seemed.
“Social narcissists are charming and seem incredibly helpful and warm,” says Le Joy. This is why, at first, you may not realize that something is wrong. However, as you get to know them, narcissistic traits become apparent.
In addition to acting as if no one lives up to their level, she says they “have unrealistic expectations of others, need for public validation, and great beliefs about themselves and their abilities.”
What causes communal narcissism?
Although you may suspect that being a narcissist is no big deal, the truth is that narcissism negatively affects the lives of people who suffer from it, as well as those who abuse them because of their condition.
We cannot say with 100% certainty what causes personality problems, however, it is believed that for any form of pathological narcissism there are contributions from early relational experiences and unmet needs. In addition, “societal narcissism can be caused by a history of abuse, neglect, or any other type of childhood trauma,” Le Joy explains.
“Narcissism often occurs when people have unmet needs and desires to experience expressions of love and validation through any means necessary,” Le Joy says.
It is possible that the development of narcissism was unintentional, and the cult narcissist may be completely unaware of his or her problem.
People affected by communal narcissism may experience trust issues
Societal narcissism can affect people in a very negative way. This is because the cult narcissist makes others believe their actions are pure in intention when they are actually performed in order to gain praise and admiration and to be seen as special. This, in turn, can cause even greater trust issues.
Signs that someone you know may be a confessional narcissist
At first, when you first meet a confessional narcissist, you are unlikely to realize that they are a narcissist. It may take some time to see their personality traits and realize that their intentions are not as genuine as you thought.
When someone does something nice for you, they should be doing it because they want to. However, if they demand immediate recognition, it may be a sign of sectarian narcissism.
If you see someone acting in a way that makes them look like the “good guy” in public, but they act very differently behind closed doors, chances are they are a cult narcissist.
There are many other ways in which societal narcissism can manifest:
Focusing public attention on himself
Donate a large amount of money to a cause, but tell others about it and warn them if they don’t donate as well
Discussion about the importance of justice and acting unfairly towards others3
Exaggerating their knowledge or skills
Engaging in “virtue pointing” or expressing their ideas in order to appear morally superior
Offering time, goods, or services to others, then insisting on receiving admiration or praise
How to deal with a sectarian narcissist
As you know, telling the narcissist that you see through them is unlikely to produce good results.
Better to set boundaries
“If you have a confessional narcissist in your life, it’s not usually helpful to try to explain why you don’t think his or her intentions are legitimate,” says Le Joy. Instead, she tells us, “It’s better to create boundaries so you don’t get sucked into the maelstrom of emotions.”
Don’t allow their behavior to change your personality
You can also set an example in societal narcissism by being an authentic person. Le Joy suggests that “providing true love and validation to others reduces the need to create a false scenario where this can happen.”
By being the best version of yourself, without expecting praise or admiration in response to your good deeds, you help create a safer, better world.
