The nation and the self

National identity, national narcissism, and social belonging across cultural contexts

Bibliographic Data

ID19217985
AuthorsWei Zheng (0000-0002-3339-5606, East China Normal University, corresponding author), Zhiyu Liu (0000-0002-6024-7836, East China Normal University, corresponding author), Yinqiu Zhao (0009-0002-8981-0650, East China Normal University), Chunhao Ma (0000-0001-6846-3608, Southwest University)
Year2026
Volume47
Issue3
Publication date2026-05-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0162-895X • E-ISSN: 1467-9221
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/pops.70150
OpenAlexW7160394302
LanguageEN
References cited46

Belonging is a fundamental need, and nations remain potent bases of affiliation. We report a preregistered, cross‐national study testing how national identity (secure attachment) and national narcissism (defensive, recognition‐seeking attachment) relate to social belonging, and whether these links vary with individualism–collectivism. Using data from 57 countries/regions, we estimated multilevel models (individuals nested within countries) and adjusted for standard individual and national covariates. Cultural context was indexed with both the Minkov–Hofstede individualism scores and the Global Collectivism Index, and the comparative effect of national identity versus national narcissism was evaluated with relative weight analysis. Two main conclusions emerge. First, both forms of national attachment are positively associated with social belonging, but national identity is the comparatively stronger correlate when both are considered simultaneously, consistent with the view that secure identification is associated with a generalizable pattern of everyday inclusion. Second, cultural moderation is asymmetric: The narcissism–belonging association varies with cultural value orientations—attenuated in more individualistic and amplified in more collectivistic contexts—whereas the identity–belonging link is comparatively stable across cultures. These findings refine the conceptual distinction between secure and defensive ties to the nation and clarify when national attachment supports felt connection. Implications for theory, civic communication, and belonging interventions are discussed

Collectivism · Context (archaeology) · Cross-cultural studies · Individualism · Moderation · Multilevel model · Narcissism · National identity · Social identity theory · Cultural Differences and Values · Personality Traits and Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology

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