The Anti-Social Triad of Grievance Politics: An Integrated Model of Reactionism, Ressentiment and Collective Narcissism

In this article, we undertake a comprehensive examination of reactionism, ressentiment, and collective narcissism, collectively termed as the 'anti-social triad of grievance politics.' While these constructs are conceptually distinct, they are intricately linked on a psychological level. Reactionism denotes a backward-facing political orientation, ressentiment embodies a chronic and embittered emotional mechanism, and collective narcissism reflects a precarious and wounded psychological state. Together, they constitute a potent blend of anti-social sentiments within grievance politics, yet they are often studied in isolation, overlooking their interconnectedness. Our study pioneers in establishing original connections between reactionism, ressentiment, and collective narcissism, providing empirical evidence of their coexistence and interactions. We introduce a novel scale to measure reactionism and explore its associations with existing measures of ressentiment and collective narcissism, as well as their associations with values, authoritarianism, and populism. By elucidating the tight interplay among these elements, we offer valuable insights into their implications for responses to social change and the essence of democracy.