Hello Friends,

Narcissism… An insult. A personality trait. A mental health disorder. An epidemic. A stage 6 sympathetic reflex. And we’ve all dipped a toe somewhere in the continuum.

Activism… Women’s Suffrage. Civil rights. The Boston Tea Party.

Though these concepts might seem worlds apart, narcissism and activism often intertwine, blending personal motivations with broader social goals. This intersection is sometimes referred to as communal narcissism, where personal ambitions align with social causes. While activism is driven by a desire to create change—like planting seeds for a better future—narcissism introduces a focus on self-recognition and validation. Traits like charisma and confidence, frequently tied to narcissistic personalities, can help amplify activism by attracting attention and rallying support.

History has shown a recurring pattern of charismatic activists rising to power and transforming into authoritarian rulers. These leaders often emerge during periods of societal upheaval, economic uncertainty, and general feelings of being out of control. Promises of stability, confidence, and direction rouse followers to rally behind their causes. Figures like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin illustrate this, using their activism to gain influence and position themselves as the solution to their nation's crises. Once in power, their leadership is marked by narcissism, obsession with control, and detrimental consequences.

Yet not all narcissism is detrimental. Groups require individuals to lead, and leaders often emerge from a pool that has higher levels of narcissistic traits. Healthy narcissism—confidence paired with a focus on the cause—can inspire activism and drive resilience. W. Keith Campbell, PhD, has 5 rules to use narcissism for success: (1) Keep It Brief (2) Keep It Public (3) Make the First Move (4) Build That Network (5) Stand Up for Yourself. You can read more about this in his book The New Science of Narcissism.

Self-less leaders are rare in history, but Adam Grant in his book Think Again tells the story of how Daryl Davis, a black man, befriends members of the KKK (whom in many cases eventually quit the KKK, and in one case closed an entire chapter) through open-minded conversation, asking questions, planting seeds of doubt, and allowing others to think and rethink their views.

Activists can take on various roles. Deepa Iyer outlined a Social Change Map identifying roles in which individuals can participate in social change: builders, caregivers, disrupters, frontline responders, healers, storytellers, visionaries, guides, weavers, experimenters.

There can also be a difference between taking action and engaging in social activism. Taking action could look like disseminating information to others, educating individuals on past or potential consequences, highlighting when actions violate existing laws or how existing laws need to be different to serve the greater good. Present the information and observe the outcomes. This can be characterized and experienced as behavior consistent with a parasympathetic nervous system.

Conversely, if one begins to label those who disregard or reject the information as bad or wrong, it indicates an attempt to control the outcome. It is important not to hold the expectation that everyone must share the same beliefs, and to avoid deeming those with differing views as bad or evil. This mindset can lead to a problematic path of self-righteousness and behavior consistent with a sympathetic nervous system.

What does activism look like for you and how do you tend to your nervous system as you do?

Onwards, Amy