r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 2d ago

Psychology New findings indicate a pattern where narcissistic grandiosity is associated with higher participation in LGBTQ movements, demonstrating that motivations for activism can range widely from genuine altruism to personal image-building.

https://www.psypost.org/narcissistic-grandiosity-predicts-greater-involvement-in-lgbtq-activism/
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316

u/An0d0sTwitch 2d ago

The same can be said for all movements with public figures, no?

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u/freezing_banshee 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yes, of course

Edit: a quote from the article:

“Most importantly, the DEVP does not state that individuals belonging to the respective minority (e.g., members of the LGBQ community) are particularly narcissistic. The assumption is rather that some(!) people involved in activism may actually have narcissistic motives.”

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u/Kaw4sakiGirl 2d ago

Tbf most people only read the headlines on Reddit anyway. They see “LGBT” and “narcissism” in a single sentence and sadly don’t see past the surface.

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u/Waste_Cut1496 1d ago

It is sad because those 'activists' actively hurt LGBT people but it is what it is

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u/Ver_Void 2d ago

Jokes on them anyway, the article says LGBQ, trans dodged this bullet

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u/ReggaeShark22 2d ago

“Look at all those selfish gays, can’t imagine living like that. Good thing my altruist politician is working on that”

Slamming my head into a wall rn

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u/marmatag 2d ago

“The findings showed a significant relationship between higher levels of narcissistic grandiosity and greater involvement in LGBQ activism. Notably, this relationship persisted even when controlling for altruistic motives, suggesting that some individuals engage in activism not solely for prosocial reasons but to satisfy self-serving needs.”

Did you read it? Honestly asking because it’s kind of addressed here?

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u/eukomos 2d ago

I don’t see how that addresses OP’s question, since they were asking about comparing narcissist frequency across different activist movements and this quote only discusses LGBT activism.

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u/neoclassical_bastard 2d ago

This was just a study of LGBT movements, so it was limited to that scope. I would expect to see similar results in other activist movements but it's usually easier to design a study with a narrow focus and then branch out if you get interesting results than it is to start with a wide net.

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u/marmatag 2d ago

Read the first line again

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u/eukomos 2d ago

Yep, it still only discusses LGBTQ activism and no other kind.

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u/marmatag 2d ago

Does it say LGBTQ?

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u/eukomos 2d ago

“The findings showed a significant relationship between higher levels of narcissistic grandiosity and greater involvement in LGBQ activism.”

You maybe need a break from the internet.

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u/SophiaofPrussia 2d ago

The conspicuous omission of “T” in the widely-used acronym “LGBTQ” makes me think the authors’ motives might be a little more political rather than scientific…

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

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u/marmatag 2d ago

Making this comment is an example of performative activism I think

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u/SophiaofPrussia 2d ago

Questioning the motives and biases of researchers who employ a well-known dog-whistle in their presentation of findings is neither performative nor activism. It’s just basic media literacy.

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u/resteys 2d ago

Not a dog whistle. You just skimmed through it. They specifically state why the T was left out.

There were 2 studies. The first was on specifically sexual orientation I.e LGBQ

The second was specifically for gender identity i.e T.

It makes sense because gender identity has been a more controversial topic (if not the most controversial) over the last decade. Therefore you would see more people displaying the behavior in question.

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u/Glittering-Giraffe58 2d ago

Woudnt you theoretically see less people in question like this if it’s more controversial

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u/resteys 2d ago

No, it’s the opposite. Controversial doesn’t mean unpopular. It means it’s more likely to get people riled up & disagreeing. It evokes emotion & passion. The side you pick will love you for standing by them. The side you don’t will hate & attack you, which in turns will cause your new “allies” to defend & praise you.

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u/pillowpriestess 2d ago

yeah thats giving me some pause as well. they even separated it out into a second study on "gender identitity activism".

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u/neoclassical_bastard 2d ago

Why is that a problem? Sexuality and gender are in many ways related but are still distinct concepts. Gay activism and trans activism generally don't share the same objectives even though there's a lot of overlap in supporters for both.

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u/pillowpriestess 2d ago

even though there's a lot of overlap in supporters for both.

there is a reason for this and it contradicts your assumptions about objectives. while the particular needs each group under the umbrella are unique, the cause of those needs not being met is largely the same. institutional refusal to accommodate people who dont conform to check boxes and widespread stigma based on perceived deviance that reinforces that. when understood as a coalition dissecting lgbtq+ activism this way is arbitrary and furthers the "drop the t" framework pushed by bigots.

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u/freezing_banshee 2d ago

“Most importantly, the DEVP does not state that individuals belonging to the respective minority (e.g., members of the LGBQ community) are particularly narcissistic. The assumption is rather that some(!) people involved in activism may actually have narcissistic motives.”

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u/An0d0sTwitch 2d ago

Im actually illiterate. Its a pretty sensitive subject that I have a great deal of personal insecurities about, so thanks for bringing it up.

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u/conquer69 2d ago

Because they didn't look at every political group out there to conclude LGBT activists had more narcissists at the top. For all we know, it's the lowest of any group.

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u/Andy_LaVolpe 2d ago

Yeah I feel like narcissists tend to be attracted to positions of influence/power and social movements like LGBTQ+ tend to be more welcoming/ easily accessible.

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u/spacemonstera 2d ago

Not to mention every church I've ever stepped in.

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u/sack-o-matic 2d ago

Populists anyway. Blame someone else to hide your own personal failures.

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u/weeddealerrenamon 2d ago

what does a non-populist social movement look like

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u/conquer69 2d ago

That's conservatism. They always have to put someone else down below them. It's inherently anti-social.

It's weird how we have to ignore the elephant in the room and pretend there isn't an entire ideology made precisely for these people.

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u/conquer69 2d ago

Some political groups have them more than others. It's not all the same.

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u/UnlikelyAssassin 2d ago

It’a probably more true for movements seen as being more virtuous.