Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism

Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska; Jarosław Piotrowski; Bartłomiej Nowak; Vassilis Saroglou; John Maltby; Constantine Sedikides; Mladen Adamovic; Nur Amali Aminnuddin; Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah; Rahkman Ardi; Zana Hasan Babakr; Einar Baldvin Baldursson; Sergiu Bălțătescu; Muhammed Bilgehan Aytaç; Aidos Bolatov; Bruno Bonfá-Araujo; Matthias Burghart; Phatthanakit Chobthamkit; Marilyn Clark; Magali Clobert; Richard G. Cowden; Jesus Alonso Datu; Sandesh Dhakal; Sonya Dragova-Koleva; Begoña Espejo; Dmitry Grigoryev; Emanuela Gritti; Katherine Gundolf; Rishad Habib; Md Imran Hossain; Luis Carlos Jaume; Dzintra Iliško; Naved Iqbal; Veljko Jovanović; Tomislav Jukić; Shanmukh V. Kamble; Narine Khachatryan; Emil Knezović; Monika Kovacs; Heather A. Kumove; Walaa Labib M. Eldesoki; Aitor Larzabal Fernandez; Norman Li; Uri Lifshin; Kadi Liik; Maxim Likhanov; Agim Mamuti; Rasmus Mannerström; Alison J. Marganski; Marta Martín Carbonell; Maia Mestvirishvili; Chanki Moon; Kostas A. Papageorgiou; Joonha Park; Pablo Pérez de León; Rogelio Puente-Díaz; Jano Ramos-Diaz; Troy Smith; Gashaw Tesfa; Kiều Thị Thanh Trà; Habib Tiliouine; Robert Tomšik; Charles S. Umeh; Tadas Vadvilavičius; Kees van den Bos; Alain van Hiel; Anna Wlodarczyk; Zahir Vally; Christin Melanie Vauclair; Illia Yahiiaiev; Fatemeh Zand

doi:10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism

Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska^*
, Jarosław Piotrowski
, Bartłomiej Nowak
, Vassilis Saroglou
, John Maltby
, Constantine Sedikides
, Mladen Adamovic
, Nur Amali Aminnuddin
, Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah
, Rahkman Ardi
, Zana Hasan Babakr
, Einar Baldvin Baldursson
, Sergiu Bălțătescu
, Muhammed Bilgehan Aytaç
, Aidos Bolatov
, Bruno Bonfá-Araujo
, Matthias Burghart
, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit
, Marilyn Clark
, Magali Clobert

Richard G. Cowden, Jesus Alonso Datu, Sandesh Dhakal, Sonya Dragova-Koleva, Begoña Espejo, Dmitry Grigoryev, Emanuela Gritti, Katherine Gundolf, Rishad Habib, Md Imran Hossain, Luis Carlos Jaume, Dzintra Iliško, Naved Iqbal, Veljko Jovanović, Tomislav Jukić, Shanmukh V. Kamble, Narine Khachatryan, Emil Knezović, Monika Kovacs, Heather A. Kumove, Walaa Labib M. Eldesoki, Aitor Larzabal Fernandez, Norman Li, Uri Lifshin, Kadi Liik, Maxim Likhanov, Agim Mamuti, Rasmus Mannerström, Alison J. Marganski, Marta Martín Carbonell, Maia Mestvirishvili, Chanki Moon, Kostas A. Papageorgiou, Joonha Park, Pablo Pérez de León, Rogelio Puente-Díaz, Jano Ramos-Diaz, Troy Smith, Gashaw Tesfa, Kiều Thị Thanh Trà, Habib Tiliouine, Robert Tomšik, Charles S. Umeh, Tadas Vadvilavičius, Kees van den Bos, Alain van Hiel, Anna Wlodarczyk, Zahir Vally, Christin Melanie Vauclair, Illia Yahiiaiev, Fatemeh Zand

^*Corresponding author for this work

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University
Université catholique de Louvain
University of Leicester
University of Southampton
Sogang University
King's College London
University of Brunei Darussalam
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Universitas Airlangga
Soran University
Aalborg University
University of Oradea
Aksaray University
“University Medical Center” Corporate Fund
Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná
Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime
Thammasat University
University of Malta
Université de Caen
Harvard University
The University of Hong Kong
Tribhuvan University
New Bulgarian University
University of Valencia
Independent Researcher
University of Urbino
Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences
Ted Rogers School of Management
University of Chittagong
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Daugavpils University
Jama Milia Islamia
University of Novi Sad
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Karnatak University
Yerevan State University
International University of Sarajevo
Eotvos Lorand University
University of Massachusetts
Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University
Faculty of Arts
University of the Basque Country
Singapore Management University
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Tallinn University
Aix-Marseille Université
Mother Teresa University
Tirana County
University of Helsinki
Le Moyne College
Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
Jeonbuk National University
Queen's University Belfast
Kyoto University
Universidad Católica del Uruguay
Universidad Anahuac Mexico
Universidad Privada del Norte
Targeted Evidence-Based Research Solutions
Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
Ho Chi Minh City University of Education
University of Oran
Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology (VÚDPaP)
University of Lagos
Vytautas Magnus University
Ghent University
Universidad Católica del Norte
Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Campus
University Institute of Lisbon
Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University
Tolo Mehr University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Agnosticism and atheism are often grouped simply as nonreligious identities, yet emerging research highlights their distinct psychological profiles and social implications. Among these distinctions, collective narcissism–characterized by strong attachment to one’s group, exceptionalism, and grievance for recognition–offers a framework for understanding identity processes in both nonreligious groups. We examined whether agnostics and atheists exhibit collective narcissism and its forms (agentic–focused on exceptional effectiveness; communal–focused on exceptional morality) similarly to believers. We explored cross-denominational variance in agentic and communal collective narcissism levels relying on data from 77 countries (N = 3,570; 1227 agnostics, 2343 atheists). Agnostics and atheists from secular countries reported lower collective (particularly agentic) narcissism relative to their counterparts from religious countries. Further, agnostics and atheists were higher on communal than agentic collective narcissism. The results highlight the utility of the agency-communion model of collective narcissism among nonbelievers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	539-555
Number of pages	17
Journal	International Journal for the Psychology of Religion
Volume	36
Issue number	3
Early online date	8 May 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828
Publication status	Published - Jul 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Funding

The work of Magdalena Żemojtel-Piotrowska, Jarosław Piotrowski and Bartłomiej Nowak was supported by grant [2024/55/B/HS6/00282] from the National Science Center, Poland. The authors thank Maksim Rudnev for statistical consultation.

Funders
Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Access to Document

10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

Cite this

Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Piotrowski, J., Nowak, B., Saroglou, V., Maltby, J., Sedikides, C., Adamovic, M., Aminnuddin, N. A., Appiah, S. C. Y., Ardi, R., Babakr, Z. H., Baldursson, E. B., Bălțătescu, S., Aytaç, M. B., Bolatov, A., Bonfá-Araujo, B., Burghart, M., Chobthamkit, P., Clark, M., ... Zand, F. (2026). Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 36(3), 539-555. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

@article{7fc437ca002b4db4b5ee506e6d7488ba,

title = "Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism",

abstract = "Agnosticism and atheism are often grouped simply as nonreligious identities, yet emerging research highlights their distinct psychological profiles and social implications. Among these distinctions, collective narcissism{\textendash}characterized by strong attachment to one{\textquoteright}s group, exceptionalism, and grievance for recognition{\textendash}offers a framework for understanding identity processes in both nonreligious groups. We examined whether agnostics and atheists exhibit collective narcissism and its forms (agentic{\textendash}focused on exceptional effectiveness; communal{\textendash}focused on exceptional morality) similarly to believers. We explored cross-denominational variance in agentic and communal collective narcissism levels relying on data from 77 countries (N = 3,570; 1227 agnostics, 2343 atheists). Agnostics and atheists from secular countries reported lower collective (particularly agentic) narcissism relative to their counterparts from religious countries. Further, agnostics and atheists were higher on communal than agentic collective narcissism. The results highlight the utility of the agency-communion model of collective narcissism among nonbelievers.",

author = "Magdalena {\.Z}emojtel-Piotrowska and Jaros{\l}aw Piotrowski and Bart{\l}omiej Nowak and Vassilis Saroglou and John Maltby and Constantine Sedikides and Mladen Adamovic and Aminnuddin, \{Nur Amali\} and Appiah, \{Seth Christopher Yaw\} and Rahkman Ardi and Babakr, \{Zana Hasan\} and Baldursson, \{Einar Baldvin\} and Sergiu B{\u a}lț{\u a}tescu and Ayta{\c c}, \{Muhammed Bilgehan\} and Aidos Bolatov and Bruno Bonf{\'a}-Araujo and Matthias Burghart and Phatthanakit Chobthamkit and Marilyn Clark and Magali Clobert and Cowden, \{Richard G.\} and Datu, \{Jesus Alonso\} and Sandesh Dhakal and Sonya Dragova-Koleva and Bego{\~n}a Espejo and Dmitry Grigoryev and Emanuela Gritti and Katherine Gundolf and Rishad Habib and Hossain, \{Md Imran\} and Jaume, \{Luis Carlos\} and Dzintra Ili{\v s}ko and Naved Iqbal and Veljko Jovanovi{\'c} and Tomislav Juki{\'c} and Kamble, \{Shanmukh V.\} and Narine Khachatryan and Emil Knezovi{\'c} and Monika Kovacs and Kumove, \{Heather A.\} and Eldesoki, \{Walaa Labib M.\} and \{Larzabal Fernandez\}, Aitor and Norman Li and Uri Lifshin and Kadi Liik and Maxim Likhanov and Agim Mamuti and Rasmus Mannerstr{\"o}m and Marganski, \{Alison J.\} and \{Mart{\'i}n Carbonell\}, Marta and Maia Mestvirishvili and Chanki Moon and Papageorgiou, \{Kostas A.\} and Joonha Park and \{P{\'e}rez de Le{\'o}n\}, Pablo and Rogelio Puente-D{\'i}az and Jano Ramos-Diaz and Troy Smith and Gashaw Tesfa and \{Thị Thanh Tr{\`a}\}, Kiều and Habib Tiliouine and Robert Tom{\v s}ik and Umeh, \{Charles S.\} and Tadas Vadvilavi{\v c}ius and \{van den Bos\}, Kees and \{van Hiel\}, Alain and Anna Wlodarczyk and Zahir Vally and Vauclair, \{Christin Melanie\} and Illia Yahiiaiev and Fatemeh Zand",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Taylor \& Francis Group, LLC.",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "539--555",

journal = "International Journal for the Psychology of Religion",

issn = "1050-8619",

publisher = "Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group",

number = "3",

}

Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M, Piotrowski, J, Nowak, B, Saroglou, V, Maltby, J, Sedikides, C, Adamovic, M, Aminnuddin, NA, Appiah, SCY, Ardi, R, Babakr, ZH, Baldursson, EB, Bălțătescu, S, Aytaç, MB, Bolatov, A, Bonfá-Araujo, B, Burghart, M, Chobthamkit, P, Clark, M, Clobert, M, Cowden, RG, Datu, JA, Dhakal, S, Dragova-Koleva, S, Espejo, B, Grigoryev, D, Gritti, E, Gundolf, K, Habib, R, Hossain, MI, Jaume, LC, Iliško, D, Iqbal, N, Jovanović, V, Jukić, T, Kamble, SV, Khachatryan, N, Knezović, E, Kovacs, M, Kumove, HA, Eldesoki, WLM, Larzabal Fernandez, A, Li, N, Lifshin, U, Liik, K, Likhanov, M, Mamuti, A, Mannerström, R, Marganski, AJ, Martín Carbonell, M, Mestvirishvili, M, Moon, C, Papageorgiou, KA, Park, J, Pérez de León, P, Puente-Díaz, R, Ramos-Diaz, J, Smith, T, Tesfa, G, Thị Thanh Trà, K, Tiliouine, H, Tomšik, R, Umeh, CS, Vadvilavičius, T, van den Bos, K, van Hiel, A, Wlodarczyk, A, Vally, Z, Vauclair, CM, Yahiiaiev, I & Zand, F 2026, 'Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism', International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 539-555. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

TY - JOUR

T1 - Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification

T2 - Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism

AU - Żemojtel-Piotrowska, Magdalena

AU - Piotrowski, Jarosław

AU - Nowak, Bartłomiej

AU - Saroglou, Vassilis

AU - Maltby, John

AU - Sedikides, Constantine

AU - Adamovic, Mladen

AU - Aminnuddin, Nur Amali

AU - Appiah, Seth Christopher Yaw

AU - Ardi, Rahkman

AU - Babakr, Zana Hasan

AU - Baldursson, Einar Baldvin

AU - Bălțătescu, Sergiu

AU - Aytaç, Muhammed Bilgehan

AU - Bolatov, Aidos

AU - Bonfá-Araujo, Bruno

AU - Burghart, Matthias

AU - Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit

AU - Clark, Marilyn

AU - Clobert, Magali

AU - Cowden, Richard G.

AU - Datu, Jesus Alonso

AU - Dhakal, Sandesh

AU - Dragova-Koleva, Sonya

AU - Espejo, Begoña

AU - Grigoryev, Dmitry

AU - Gritti, Emanuela

AU - Gundolf, Katherine

AU - Habib, Rishad

AU - Hossain, Md Imran

AU - Jaume, Luis Carlos

AU - Iliško, Dzintra

AU - Iqbal, Naved

AU - Jovanović, Veljko

AU - Jukić, Tomislav

AU - Kamble, Shanmukh V.

AU - Khachatryan, Narine

AU - Knezović, Emil

AU - Kovacs, Monika

AU - Kumove, Heather A.

AU - Eldesoki, Walaa Labib M.

AU - Larzabal Fernandez, Aitor

AU - Li, Norman

AU - Lifshin, Uri

AU - Liik, Kadi

AU - Likhanov, Maxim

AU - Mamuti, Agim

AU - Mannerström, Rasmus

AU - Marganski, Alison J.

AU - Martín Carbonell, Marta

AU - Mestvirishvili, Maia

AU - Moon, Chanki

AU - Papageorgiou, Kostas A.

AU - Park, Joonha

AU - Pérez de León, Pablo

AU - Puente-Díaz, Rogelio

AU - Ramos-Diaz, Jano

AU - Smith, Troy

AU - Tesfa, Gashaw

AU - Thị Thanh Trà, Kiều

AU - Tiliouine, Habib

AU - Tomšik, Robert

AU - Umeh, Charles S.

AU - Vadvilavičius, Tadas

AU - van den Bos, Kees

AU - van Hiel, Alain

AU - Wlodarczyk, Anna

AU - Vally, Zahir

AU - Vauclair, Christin Melanie

AU - Yahiiaiev, Illia

AU - Zand, Fatemeh

PY - 2026/7

Y1 - 2026/7

N2 - Agnosticism and atheism are often grouped simply as nonreligious identities, yet emerging research highlights their distinct psychological profiles and social implications. Among these distinctions, collective narcissism–characterized by strong attachment to one’s group, exceptionalism, and grievance for recognition–offers a framework for understanding identity processes in both nonreligious groups. We examined whether agnostics and atheists exhibit collective narcissism and its forms (agentic–focused on exceptional effectiveness; communal–focused on exceptional morality) similarly to believers. We explored cross-denominational variance in agentic and communal collective narcissism levels relying on data from 77 countries (N = 3,570; 1227 agnostics, 2343 atheists). Agnostics and atheists from secular countries reported lower collective (particularly agentic) narcissism relative to their counterparts from religious countries. Further, agnostics and atheists were higher on communal than agentic collective narcissism. The results highlight the utility of the agency-communion model of collective narcissism among nonbelievers.

AB - Agnosticism and atheism are often grouped simply as nonreligious identities, yet emerging research highlights their distinct psychological profiles and social implications. Among these distinctions, collective narcissism–characterized by strong attachment to one’s group, exceptionalism, and grievance for recognition–offers a framework for understanding identity processes in both nonreligious groups. We examined whether agnostics and atheists exhibit collective narcissism and its forms (agentic–focused on exceptional effectiveness; communal–focused on exceptional morality) similarly to believers. We explored cross-denominational variance in agentic and communal collective narcissism levels relying on data from 77 countries (N = 3,570; 1227 agnostics, 2343 atheists). Agnostics and atheists from secular countries reported lower collective (particularly agentic) narcissism relative to their counterparts from religious countries. Further, agnostics and atheists were higher on communal than agentic collective narcissism. The results highlight the utility of the agency-communion model of collective narcissism among nonbelievers.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038345420

U2 - 10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

DO - 10.1080/10508619.2026.2656828

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105038345420

SN - 1050-8619

VL - 36

SP - 539

EP - 555

JO - International Journal for the Psychology of Religion

JF - International Journal for the Psychology of Religion

IS - 3

ER -

Beyond Religious Narcissistic Identification: Agnostic and Atheistic Narcissism

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Access to Document

Other files and links

Embargoed Document

Fingerprint

Cite this