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Exploring a pathway to radicalization : The effects of social exclusion and rejection sensitivity

Renström, Emma A. LU ; Bäck, Hanna LU orcid and Knapton, Holly M. LU (2020) In Group Processes and Intergroup Relations 23(8). p.1204-1229
Abstract

This article aims to explore if social exclusion can constitute a pathway to radicalization, and if individual level of sensitivity of rejection moderates the effect of social exclusion. Humans innately seek belonging and meaning, and strive for re-establishing a sense of value and belongingness if faced with social exclusion. One way to achieve this is by adherence to a new and inviting group. In four studies, we test to what extent individuals who face social exclusion adapt to a radical including group. In Studies 1 (n = 104) and 2 (n = 308), we use a social media-like paradigm to manipulate social exclusion. In Study 3 (n = 1041), we use the so-called Cyberball paradigm, and in Study 4 (n = 40) we use a real-life manipulation. All... (More)

This article aims to explore if social exclusion can constitute a pathway to radicalization, and if individual level of sensitivity of rejection moderates the effect of social exclusion. Humans innately seek belonging and meaning, and strive for re-establishing a sense of value and belongingness if faced with social exclusion. One way to achieve this is by adherence to a new and inviting group. In four studies, we test to what extent individuals who face social exclusion adapt to a radical including group. In Studies 1 (n = 104) and 2 (n = 308), we use a social media-like paradigm to manipulate social exclusion. In Study 3 (n = 1041), we use the so-called Cyberball paradigm, and in Study 4 (n = 40) we use a real-life manipulation. All studies show that rejected individuals who are sensitive to rejection are more prone to identify with, engage with and endorse an extreme group. The results hold over both ideological (Studies 1–3) and non-ideological (Study 4) content. Only the last study showed a main effect of social exclusion. We discuss the results in reference to the significance loss model of radicalization.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
experiment, radicalization, rejection sensitivity, social exclusion
in
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations
volume
23
issue
8
pages
26 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85097090830
ISSN
1368-4302
DOI
10.1177/1368430220917215
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f7a9a318-a98b-4a8f-be1b-632dd034bc76
date added to LUP
2021-01-07 13:37:40
date last changed
2024-01-17 19:09:37
@article{f7a9a318-a98b-4a8f-be1b-632dd034bc76,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article aims to explore if social exclusion can constitute a pathway to radicalization, and if individual level of sensitivity of rejection moderates the effect of social exclusion. Humans innately seek belonging and meaning, and strive for re-establishing a sense of value and belongingness if faced with social exclusion. One way to achieve this is by adherence to a new and inviting group. In four studies, we test to what extent individuals who face social exclusion adapt to a radical including group. In Studies 1 (n = 104) and 2 (n = 308), we use a social media-like paradigm to manipulate social exclusion. In Study 3 (n = 1041), we use the so-called Cyberball paradigm, and in Study 4 (n = 40) we use a real-life manipulation. All studies show that rejected individuals who are sensitive to rejection are more prone to identify with, engage with and endorse an extreme group. The results hold over both ideological (Studies 1–3) and non-ideological (Study 4) content. Only the last study showed a main effect of social exclusion. We discuss the results in reference to the significance loss model of radicalization.</p>}},
  author       = {{Renström, Emma A. and Bäck, Hanna and Knapton, Holly M.}},
  issn         = {{1368-4302}},
  keywords     = {{experiment; radicalization; rejection sensitivity; social exclusion}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{8}},
  pages        = {{1204--1229}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Group Processes and Intergroup Relations}},
  title        = {{Exploring a pathway to radicalization : The effects of social exclusion and rejection sensitivity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1368430220917215}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1368430220917215}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}