Final answer:
Individuals who act aggressively when their sense of self-worth is threatened are referred to as b)narcissists. Narcissism involves a range of traits including entitlement, need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. Aggressive reactions in such individuals are to protect their fragile self-esteem and are distinct from other personality disorders that may also demonstrate aggressive behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who tend to act aggressively when their overly-inflated sense of self-worth is challenged are typically described as narcissists. Narcissism is characterized by traits such as a lack of empathy for others, exploitation of others without guilt or shame, excessive need for admiration, and a sense of entitlement. In the realm of psychology, it is understood that such individuals can resort to aggression when they feel that their superior self-image is threatened, a reaction that is aligned with maintaining their fragile self-esteem. While other personality types like psychopaths or those with antisocial tendencies may also display aggressive behaviors, the specific context of reacting aggressively to challenges to one's inflated self-worth is most closely associated with narcissistic personality disorder.
In discussing political psychology, research such as outlined in Jerrold M. Post's work suggests that there can be complex interplays between personality traits, including narcissism, and political behaviors. Similarly, the landmark study The Authoritarian Personality associates character traits developed in childhood with political tendencies later in life. However, when considering the Eysencks' dimensions of personality, it is specifically the high score on psychoticism that associates with independent thinking, coldness, nonconformity, impulsiveness, antisocial behavior, and hostility - which are different from the characteristics defining narcissistic aggression.