A Look at the Dark-Ego Link Between Psychopathy, Narcissism, and Antisemitism

Thursday, February 13, 2025.

An interesting recent study published in Current Psychology forces us to confront a disquieting reality: certain personality traits—namely, narcissism and psychopathy—can fuel antisemitic beliefs.

Researchers Ann Krispenz and Alex Bertrams from the University of Bern identify these beliefs as 'dark-ego vehicles,' meaning they serve as outlets for self-centered needs like dominance, aggression, and moral posturing.

The Dual Faces of Narcissism: Grandiose vs. Antagonistic

The research reveals striking nuance: not all narcissists hate the same way.

Grandiose narcissists, those with inflated self-importance, often gravitate to antizionist antisemitism, masking hostility under political rhetoric.

In contrast, antagonistic narcissists—marked by hostility and entitlement—are more likely to embrace overt, Judeophobic antisemitism. Their motivations, however, are less about ideology and more about opportunities for dominance and outrage (Krispenz & Bertrams, 2022).

Psychopathy: Hatred Without Conviction

Psychopaths, the study found, show no ideological preference; they express both forms of antisemitism.

Their hallmark is emotional detachment—hatred becomes a stage for cruelty, unburdened by belief. This aligns with research suggesting psychopaths often exploit political or social movements simply as platforms for disruption (Jones & Paulhus, 2017).

The Vehicle Is the Point: Ideology as a Mask

Krispenz and Bertrams assert that dark personalities are ideological opportunists.

Their prior studies showed such folks infiltrating prosocial causes like climate activism, exploiting them for virtue signaling and dominance (Krispenz & Bertrams, 2022). Antisemitism, then, is less about belief and more about performance—a dark theater where the mask of righteousness hides cruelty.

Final Thoughts

This research offers a chilling implication: shifts in public discourse can redirect dark personalities from one cause to another.

Today’s climate activist may become tomorrow’s hate-monger—not from ideological change, but from a new opportunity to be seen, heard, and feared.

Such 'vehicle-hopping' underscores the need for vigilance against moralistic zealotry across the political spectrum.

Hatred grows in shadows—shadows cast not only by ignorance but by unmet psychological needs. To fight prejudice, we must understand these needs and how they drive behavior.

If we fail to confront the darkness within human nature, we may forever be chasing its many masks.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

References (APA Style):

Krispenz, A., & Bertrams, A. (2024). Antisemitism as a dark-ego vehicle. Current Psychology.

Krispenz, A., & Bertrams, A. (2022). The dark-ego vehicle principle and prosocial activism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. (2017). Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A brief measure of dark personality traits. Assessment, 24(1), 25-44.

PsyPost. (2024). New research links psychopathy and narcissism to antisemitism.