Troubling Statistics

Hate, prejudice, anger and aggression towards another have been part of Homo sapiens passion tendencies based on character since the last 30,000 years or so despite the failed teachings of prophets and laws that have attempted to modify, change or prohibit these destructive interpersonal interactions. “Hate Crimes” {a prejudiced, violent motivated crime} statistically became more of a focus during the 1980’s.While aggression is defined as “hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another, readiness to attack or confront” has ranged but not limited to angry verbal discourse, saying “no” which has been called passive-aggressive, playing competitive sports like football, to defending oneself or for survival, to killing another as in war, or in mass shootings or murder.

This post addresses the character or personality characteristics of narcissism and group narcissism. It provides some insight for malignant aggressive behavior. Yes, there are other character dynamics but they are beyond the present scope. Erich Fromm described narcissism as “a state of experience in which only the person himself, his body, his needs, his feelings, his property, everything and everybody pertaining to him as fully real, while everybody and everything that does not form part of the person is not an object of his needs is not interesting, is not fully real, is perceived only by intellectual recognition, while affectively without weight and color.” Take note, of the insignificance, non –entity, non-importance of another who was not psychically connected.

 In other words, in order to balance  homeostasis or security ,the narcissistic individual must maintain  his perceived illusion of perfection “I’m  the greatest”,”  I’m the  smartest”, “ I’m the most stable “ superiority over others . Further, his” extraordinary “qualities must constantly be displayed, defended or held on by his narcissistic self-image and identity, because it is paramount and required.  Narcissism can easily be threatened or wounded when the individual  was being slighted, criticized, telling him he’s wrong, not being loyal or even defeating him in a game .When criticized, anger, vengeance, and getting even are consistent responses . One’s narcissism must be fed by  continued agreement, applause, and being a “yes” man”,” You have the greatest ratings”, “The highest turnout”, and by rallies with favorable press and media coverage.

 Individual narcissism with its hate, prejudice, anger and aggression passions can lead to group narcissism by joining a group that has similar tendencies. In group narcissism, it’s the particular group that becomes the greatest, the most righteous, the best, the most powerful, the one and only, the purest, the most patriotic etc. To belong or to be affiliated increases solidarity and cohesion. This results in making manipulation easier {appealing to symbols like flag, star spangled banner, country, political party etc.} with its message of hate, prejudice and aggression. The individual can then feel proud by being part of this most wonderful group. Like as in individual narcissism, these individuals and their mob react with rage, anger and violence to any real or even imaginary wound or perceived threat. The image of one’s own group is elevated while the other group is despised, demonized, devalued, made less human or into non-persons. Additionally, these non-humans are characterized as being cruel and disgusting and defined as having deplorable physical characteristics like color of skin. Further, group narcissism, historically, is one of the main causes of destructive human aggression i.e. Hindus and Muslems; Catholics and Protestants; Israeli’s and Palestinians; Crusades and Muslems; White Nationalists and Jews, LGBT, Muslims, Blacks, Hispanic etc. Moreover, group consensus does not correlate with being right, moral, ethical, patriotic or good. Having someone agree means just that someone agrees.

Hate Crimes, according to FBI statistics, have been on the rise especially since 2016.  Hate groups also have increased from 784 in 2014 to 1,020 in 2018. Unfortunately, the President, in response to Charlottesville 2017, reinforced  his support of hate and prejudice with these Neo Nazi , White Supremacist , Aryan Nation groups when he said something to the effect that” there were very” fine” { excellent, first rate ,admirable, wonderful, great , exceptional, outstanding} people on both sides of the rally.  White Supremacy is a “racist belief that white people are superior to people of other races and therefore should be dominant over them.”   I do not define a White Supremacist or members of that hate group as being fine persons. Only those who are mentally disturbed would classify these people as “fine. “These ideological groups promote and express hatred both verbally and physically toward other groups especially minorities.

With the internet, it’s become easier  for these fringe  groups to recruit and become affiliated especially because of the recruits lack of life satisfaction, insecurity, non-  effectiveness, impotence, being easily lead,  having a scarcity of material wellbeing, without healthy direction, excessive boredom,  extreme hate ,alienation ,lacking empathy, requiring excitement ,stimulation, with a disturbed conscience , and mental health disturbance. In conclusion, all these people share a similar character type.