A term I heard this evening which describes the rioters perfectly:
“Narcissistic immunity” is a concept primarily associated with the psychology of narcissism, popularized by author Sam Vaknin in his writings on Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and malignant self-love.
It refers to the erroneous belief held by a narcissist that they are impervious or immune to the negative consequences of their actions, decisions, or behaviors. The narcissist feels that rules, laws, social norms, or repercussions that apply to others do not apply to them—they expect to escape punishment, criticism, or fallout, often due to a sense of grandiosity or “specialness.”
Key Elements
This perceived immunity arises from several psychological factors common in narcissism:
• The False Self — Narcissists construct a grandiose, invulnerable persona (the “false self”) to protect a fragile inner true self. This creates a psychological split where the false self feels untouchable, while any potential harm is disowned or projected outward.
• Sense of Entitlement and Magical Thinking — Narcissists often harbor an inflated belief in their own importance, leading to magical thinking: the idea that the universe or society will somehow protect them or that they are above accountability.
• Manipulation and Past Reinforcement — Many narcissists have successfully manipulated others or avoided consequences in the past (e.g., through charm, scapegoating, or social status), which reinforces this delusion.
This mindset can lead to reckless or harmful behavior, as the narcissist underestimates risks and overestimates their invincibility.