From threat to action: the mediating role of collective narcissism in behavioral responses to immigration threat

This study investigates how perceived immigration threat may shape solidarity-related behavioral responses through the mediating role of collective narcissism. Drawing on theories of symbolic threat and social identity, we propose that immigrants can be perceived not only as a threat to economy or security, but also as a symbolic challenge to national identity and group distinctiveness. In response to this perceived threat, individuals may endorse collective narcissism—a defensive belief in the exaggerated greatness of one’s national ingroup—as a way to reaffirm and protect their identity. This process may in turn motivate different forms of collective action and helping behaviors. A sample of 313 Italian participants completed measures of perceived immigration threat, collective narcissism, helping intentions, and support for collective actions both in favor of and against immigrants. A series of mediation analyses were conducted, with perceived immigration threat as the independent variable and collective narcissism as the mediator. Results showed that significant indirect effects emerged for activism, intention to help Italians, violent collective actions in favor of immigrants, and both peaceful and violent collective actions against immigrants. No significant indirect effects were found for radicalization, peaceful collective actions in favor of immigrants, or intention to help immigrants. These findings suggest that perceived immigration threat may foster defensive forms of ingroup identification that shape behavioral reactions in complex and sometimes contradictory ways. While collective narcissism was associated with exclusionary responses toward immigrants, it was also linked to certain forms of activism and collective engagement. The study contributes to research on intergroup relations by highlighting the psychological mechanisms through which perceived threats to national identity can influence both prosocial and antagonistic collective behaviors.