Narcissism Fuels Activism in LGBTQ and Gender Identity Movements

Recent research published in The Archives of Sexual Behavior examines how darker personality traits are linked to social activism, particularly within LGBTQ movements.

The study highlights that people exhibiting narcissistic grandiosity often engage more actively in these causes, suggesting a range of motivations for activist participation that encompass both genuine altruism and self-serving ambitions.

The Dark-Ego-Vehicle Principle

The researchers introduced the “dark-ego-vehicle principle” (DEVP), which proposes that some people exploit social activism to fulfill their own interests rather than to promote altruistic goals.

Those with narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, or sadism may utilize activism as a platform for personal recognition and influence.

The authors of the study explain that the DEVP indicates people with high levels of dark personality traits may manipulate prosocial activism primarily to satisfy their ego-driven needs, such as through virtue signaling.

They point out how narcissistic people are often drawn to the media attention that certain activist causes generate, making LGBTQ and gender identity activism particularly appealing to them.

Research Methodology and Findings

The research comprised two pre-registered studies that examined various dimensions of activism and included different participant groups.

In the first study, 446 participants from the United States were recruited through Prolific, a crowdsourcing platform for research.

They completed questionnaires assessing their levels of pathological narcissistic grandiosity, altruism, and engagement in activism, as well as tendencies toward virtue signaling and social dominance.

The analysis revealed a strong correlation between heightened narcissistic grandiosity and increased activity in LGBQ activism, a link that persisted even after considering altruistic intentions.

This finding indicates that some people engage in activism not purely for the benefit of society but to fulfill their self-serving inclinations.

Virtue signaling emerged as a significant factor connecting narcissism with activist involvement, suggesting that those with pronounced narcissistic traits may view activism as a means to display moral superiority.

Surprisingly, minimal evidence was found to support the idea that these people sought dominance through activism, which contradicted initial hypotheses.

The second study aimed to confirm and expand on the first by focusing specifically on activism related to gender identity, including advocacy efforts for transgender and nonbinary communities.

This study involved 837 participants from the United Kingdom recruited using the same platform.

Results reaffirmed the association between narcissistic grandiosity and increased participation in gender identity activism, echoing earlier findings.

Virtue signaling again played a crucial mediating role, indicating that people with narcissistic tendencies may use activism to showcase their moral superiority.

Collectively, the studies provided strong support for the dark-ego-vehicle principle, especially in relation to highly visible social justice initiatives.

Implications for Activism

The researchers also investigated the influence of psychopathic traits but observed varying outcomes.

In Study 1, a relationship between psychopathy and involvement in LGBQ activism was found, with instances of aggressive rhetoric during pride events linked to this relationship.

The authors suggest such behaviors may reflect how gender identity activism can attract people with psychopathic tendencies who take satisfaction in causing harm.

However, when using an alternative approach to measure psychopathy, this relationship was not replicated in Study 2.

These findings have significant implications for understanding and critically evaluating the dynamics within activist movements.

The researchers emphasize the necessity of scrutinizing the motivations behind the support or opposition to various forms of activism.

Some expressions of activism may be more closely associated with the personalities of those involved rather than the causes they claim to champion.

While many activists genuinely care about their causes, the research indicates that some may exploit these movements for narcissistic gratification, which could undermine the integrity of the activism itself.

Although this research contributes to the discussion on the relationship between personality traits and social activism, it has limitations, including reliance on self-reported data and a cross-sectional design that limits causal conclusions.

Future studies utilizing longitudinal approaches could help clarify causality and examine whether narcissistic people remain committed to activism when public interest diminishes.

The researchers express a desire to explore various types of activism and different political affiliations in future inquiries.

The full study, titled “Further evidence for the Dark-Ego-Vehicle Principle: Higher pathological narcissistic grandiosity and virtue signaling are related to greater involvement in LGBQ and gender identity activism,” was published on December 2, 2024.

Study Details:

• Title: Further evidence for the Dark-Ego-Vehicle Principle: Higher pathological narcissistic grandiosity and virtue signaling are related to greater involvement in LGBQ and gender identity activism
• Authors: Ann Krispenz, Alex Bertrams
• Journal: Archives of Sexual Behavior
• Publication Date: December 2, 2024
• DOI: 10.1007/s10508-024-03019-9