Narzissten neigen dazu, Gott als eine bestrafende Figur zu betrachten, die ihnen besondere Gefälligkeiten schuldet. Verschiedene Aspekte des Narzissmus entsprechen spezifischen, oft eigennützigen Mustern religiösen Engagements. Narzisstische Menschen neigen dazu, Religion als Mittel zur persönlichen Bereicherung, zum Status oder zum emotionalen Trost zu nutzen.
Narcissists tend to view God as a punishing figure who owes them special favors
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Narcissists tend to view God as a punishing figure who owes them special favors
A recent study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences provides evidence that different aspects of narcissism correspond to specific, often self-serving, patterns of religious engagement. The findings suggest that while highly narcissistic individuals might not be more religious overall, they tend to use religion as a tool for personal gain, status, or emotional comfort. This research offers a detailed understanding of how people with inflated self-views or deep-seated insecurities navigate faith and spirituality.
At first glance, narcissism and religion seem like an unlikely pair. Religious traditions usually promote humility, selflessness, and community care. Narcissism is a personality trait characterized by egotism, a sense of superiority, and a strong feeling of entitlement. This stark contrast raises an interesting question about how individuals with strong narcissistic traits interact with religious beliefs and communities.
Antagonistic narcissism centers on arrogance, hostility, and a tendency to exploit others. These individuals often see the world as a highly competitive place where they must dominate to survive. Neurotic narcissism is defined by emotional fragility, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to criticism. This type of vulnerable narcissist often struggles with their self-esteem and fears social rejection.
Finally, communal narcissism occurs when a person seeks to be seen as the most altruistic or helpful individual in a group. They inflate their own self-worth through seemingly selfless acts, demanding recognition for their charity. The researchers designed three independent studies to see how these four different personality traits connect to the different ways people practice and think about religion.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886926000838
narcissists think EVERYONE owes them special favors
god isnt special in that regard
I’m a bit confused on the narcissists use religion for emotional comfort, isn’t that just a regular facet of someone who is religious?
I wonder how different personality profiles interact with religion. I would love to read more about what leads religious people to be more generous and accepting of others.
If the person is religious yes. It makes it sound as this being a given for a person.
The argument is also weird because narcissistic people tend to believe this about anyone. An imaginative entity in the sky is just part of the same illusion.
My dad’s a narcissist. He was also a violent, horrific father who caused a truckload of childhood trauma. He watched a couple of youtube videos at 80 years old and decided he was now a Christian. I am an atheist and he said to me „it’s a shame you won’t be joining me in heaven.“ So this tracks.
„At first glance, narcissism and religion seem like an unlikely pair.“
They do? Has the person who wrote that sentence never encountered religion in America?
Soooo……Christians, Muslims and Jews?
Narcissism and religion are same same.
Too bad my mother is no longer with us. I could have her do a „Ask a Fanatic Anything“
People who are abusive are not abusive because of feelings or past trauma, but because of the way they think. So believing in a concept of punishment, or that if someone slights you they deserve to be punished or hurt, is one of the major indicators of abusive behavior.
Keep in mind I am not talking about a victim wanting their own justice or something abusing or screwing you over and wanting to get back at them or being angry.
Im talking about that if someone doesnt follow your rules you’ve set for them in your mind, makes you angry, disappoints you, and you then have the right to punish them by withholding important support or something they rely on you for. Or thinking that you should humiliate them or make them sorry for what they did.
Its a very big theme in an abusive mindset that they have the right to punish. An abuser always shares the fact that they are extremely emotionally immature and unintelligent, either through ignorance or deliberate refusal to learn. Abusiveness is very benefit heavy so they will not change unless they no longer have power over you.
Entitlement is a major aspect of abusive mindsets too. So believing in a god that does those things makes perfect sense, especially if they view things as transactional
No surprise that narcissists exhibit this behavior – “taking the lord’s name in vain” is the second commandment for a reason and literally right behind worshiping other gods or values (I.e. greed)
Wouldn’t personal gain, status, or emotional comfort cover what most people seek from religion? Seems like emotional comfort would cover 90 percent of folks.
Religion is a lost cause , everyone that knows this doesn’t need more studies about it and the ones who need to know never will.
A new Priest was reassigned from elsewhere to the little church in town where my wife goes. As good neighbors, We had him and his wife over for dinner since he was new in town, and dinner went well. A few months later they had us over for a traditional meal that his wife made. This dinner also went well. That was our entire outside of church relationship.
A few months later the priest calls my wife at work and tells her that his wife just wrecked their luxury car (they have two) and asked my wife if she would buy his wife a new car. After she told him no, he shunned her, for he knew that she now knew he was a grifter. After a year he got reassigned to yet another church.
So yes, this guy uses church for personal gain (or tried to) just like his father (also a priest) most likely did.
I think all religious individuals „use religion for personal gain, status, or emotional comfort“.
Psychology is science now?
Is there any correlation between narcissism and conservatism? I’d like to see that ven diagram.
I know this wasn’t posted to make a political statement. But, man, this post really feels like it’s making a political statement.
They’re delusional about being special and grand. It’s very disturbing.
The belief that they are perfect and so can’t do anything wrong. Fixed false beliefs. It easily harms others.
They can not grasp they do wrong in any situation. Plus sometimes they have obedient ‚idiots‘ that agree with their delusions and who feed that disturbed ego. It’s a cult – like …culture or pecking order.
They often call people implicitly or explicitly, insane. It’s projection.
Mythomaniac, confabulating to distort reality so it fits it’s worldview it’s something the most epic thing that’s ever been and ever will be,…controlling, dismissive, manipulate, „peak of mankind“, attention-craving, thinking it’s grand and absolutely the best in the world, regardless of incompetence or insane beliefs …awful people.
This does not surprise me at all.
Yeah. That’s why they end up leading cults.
The Abrahamic god sounds a lot like a narcissist himself. He gets all butthurt if people don’t worship him enough or if they have any other idol, and he doles out collective punishment to entire civilizations over petty grievances that offend his omnipotetent ego. The first 4 comandments are all about kissing God’s celestial buttocks. He doesn’t even get arpund to saying murder is a bad thing until around the 6th or 7th rule, I can’t remember. Anyway, to worship the Abrahamic god requires subservience and blind dedication to a violent, narcissistic, and authoritarian god. It’s no surprise to me that fundamentalists of these faiths are so open to authoritarianism as a form of government and are entranced by narcisistic dictator-type leaders. They also tend to view respect for others as being predicated on physical force and ability to inflict violence above characteristics such as wisdom, compassion, empathy, or intelligence. That’s why a lot of religious people beat their kids to make them show respect and behave, and why they tend to have an easier time resolving the cognitive dissonance between the „thou shall not kill“ commandment and killing people im wars or by capital punishment.
I think that describes most believers, the rest are completely terrified of death.
A narcissist uses EVERYTHING at their disposal for personal gain. That’s a lay definition of the term.
like most leaders of various churches?
Isn’t that everyone who follows a religion? There is some inherent benefit from following it whether avoiding „punishment“ or being rewarded by going to Heaven. Religion has always been a tool and still acts as one.
The world is watching an excellent study case
C.S. Lewis, a theologian in his later part of his life who wrote the Narnia Series, says something about that:
„There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‚Thy will be done,‘ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‚Thy will be done'“.
„God“ is treated as a magic word that makes them right about something.
They’re called Snare Words, and they are used in emotional abuse. Other Snare Words include „the troops, the children, communism, the market,“ or in domestic abuse „its not in the budget“ (when there is no budget and they want discussions on money silenced.)
Not everyone who has tried to cheat me in business or in my travels has used religion as a means of gaining credibility, but everyone who has mentioned their religious devotion in our fist conversation has tried to cheat me. Someone introducing themselves as a pastor or imam, telling me to have a “bless-ed” day or mentioning their religious works during an introduction is the most consistent red flag I’ve found.
It’s the equivalent of typos in Nigerian prince scam emails because it builds instant credibility with gullible marks and quickly weeds out people who don’t take the bait.