In search of an imaginary enemy: Catholic collective narcissism and the endorsement of gender conspiracy beliefs
Abstract
Gender studies have often been criticized for undermining family and religious values. In this paper, we argue that these criticisms exhibit the characteristics of conspiracy theories. We define gender conspiracy beliefs as convictions that gender studies and gender-equality activists represent an ideology secretly designed to harm traditional values and social arrangements. In two studies conducted among Catholics in Poland (Study 1 N= 1019; Study 2 N= 223), we examined the prevalence of gender conspiracy beliefs and their psychological concomitants. We hypothesized that gender conspiracy beliefs should be associated with a defensive identification with one’s religious group, captured by religious collective narcissism. In both studies, Catholic collective narcissism was demonstrated to be a robust predictor of gender conspiracy beliefs. We additionally demonstrated that Catholic collective narcissism predicted outgroup hostility, and this effect was mediated by gender conspiracy beliefs. We discuss the implications for gender-based prejudice.
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- Authors
- Marchlewska, M., Cichocka, A., Łozowski, F., Górska, P., & Winiewski, M.
- Affiliations
- Polish Academy of Sciences (PL)
- University of Kent (GB)
- University of Warsaw (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Marchlewska, Marta
- Venue
- The Journal of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-03-14
- Volume
- 159
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 766-779
- ISSN
- 0022-4545 (ISSN-L)
- 1940-1183
- OpenAlex
- W2921460679
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 40.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Kent Academic Repository (University of Kent) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Centre (DEC 2016/20/T/HS6/00039)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
- Keywords
- Catholics, outgroup hostility, gender studies, conspiracy theories
- MeSH terms
- Sexual and Gender Minorities, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Catholicism, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Narcissism, Poland, Prejudice, Psychological Distance, Social Identification, Social Values, Young Adult
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