Taking It Personally: Leader Narcissism and Status Dissatisfaction

• In Event: The Impact of Decision-Maker Attributes on International Security

Abstract

Status dissatisfaction has been identified as a major cause of war in the international system. But where does this dissatisfaction come from? Previous research has assumed that all leaders have a strong preference for high status. However, leaders are human beings with a wide variety of personality structures, shaping their cognitive, emotional, and affective processes. This study combines insights from social psychology and international relations by examining the link between narcissism, a relatively stable and multidimensional personality trait characterized by a strong desire for external validation and high status, and international status dissatisfaction through survey experiments. The results suggest that individuals with higher levels of narcissism are more likely to feel dissatisfaction about the status of their country in the international system when given a status threat compared to individuals with lower levels of narcissism. Also, this study explores how different dimensions of narcissism are linked to status dissatisfaction and finds that individuals with higher scores in the admiration and egocentrism dimensions of narcissism are more likely to display status dissatisfaction. These results contribute to the growing literature on leaders and international relations by showing that leader personality has an important impact on status evaluations.

Author

• Tuba Sendinc, Penn State University