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Violence and narcissism: a Frommian perspective on destructiveness under authoritarianism

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Cheliotis, Leonidas K.·2011·Canadian Journal of Sociology
DOI 10.29173/cjs8065
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Abstract

This article offers a sympathetic appraisal of Erich Fromm’s conceptualisation of narcissism as it relates to the emergence, sustenance, and resolution of authoritarian violence. The discussion is first placed within the methodological debate over the analytic operations that are required for an adequate understanding of authoritarian violence, explaining why a psychoanalytic perspective is necessary. The focus then shifts to Fromm’s take on the Freudian concept of narcissism, before proceeding to explore in some depth his account of the symbolic mechanisms and contextual climate that must combine in practice in order for narcissistic energies to be channeled into authoritarianism and violence. Attention in this regard is paid both to the populace and governing elites. The article concludes with a short exposition of Fromm’s notion of benign narcissism, from its specific content to the conditions of its possibility.

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  • Contemporary violence extends beyond interstate warfare to terrorism, racial conflict, and discontent rooted in widening inequalities.

    “Contemporary violence extends beyond interstate warfare to terrorism, racial conflict, and discontent rooted in widening inequalities (Cheliotis, 2011).”

    From Toward a humanized technology: a reinterpretation of Erich Fromm’ s humanistic peace psychology (2026) · cites this paper as Cheliotis, 2011

    In “Narcissism as an Antecedent of Authoritarian Violence” (page unavailable), Cheliotis links socioeconomic insecurity and public dissatisfaction to violence directed at weaker out-groups, and also discusses participation in wars. The passages do not establish the claimed range of contemporary violence—particularly terrorism and racial conflict—or say that inequalities are widening. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  46. Leonidas K. Cheliotis is Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Centre for Crim- inal Justice at the School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London, UK. He is an Associate Editor of the Euro pean Journal of Criminology, and the editor of The Arts of Imprisonment: Control, Resistance and Empowerment (2012), Crime and Punishment in Contemporary Greece: International Comparative Perspec- tives (2011, with Sappho Xenakis), and Roots, Rites and Sites of Resistance: The

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Authors
Cheliotis, L. K.
Affiliations
Queen Mary University of London (GB)
Corresponding author
Cheliotis, Leonidas K.
ORCID
Cheliotis, Leonidas K.
Venue
Canadian Journal of Sociology
Publisher
University of Alberta Libraries
Published
2011-12-21
Volume
36
Issue
4
Pages
337-360
ISSN
  • 0318-6431 (ISSN-L)
  • 1710-1123
DOI
10.29173/cjs8065
OpenAlex
W2132840094
Cited by
13
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2
FWCI
32.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
public-domain
Locations
  • The Canadian Journal of Sociology (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Psychoanalysis and Social Critique
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, and Politics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › History, Medicine, and Leadership
Keywords
Erich Fromm, narcissism, authoritarianism, destructive behavior, psychoanalytic theory, symbolic mechanisms, political elites, populism

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