Associations of insecure attachment with extreme pro-group actions: The mediating role of perceived marginalisation

Nelli Ferenczi,Tara C Marshall,Katharina Lefringhausen,Kathrine Bejanyan

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2015.11.057

Nelli Ferenczi, Tara C Marshall + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.11.057

Copy DOI

Abstract

Can personality traits predict willingness to fight or even die for one's heritage culture group? This study examined insecure attachment dimensions – avoidance and anxiety – as predictors of perceived rejection from heritage culture members and, in turn, greater endorsement of extreme pro-group actions. Expressing extreme commitment for the heritage culture may represent an attempt by insecure individuals to reduce their perceived marginalisation and reaffirm their heritage culture membership and identity. Participants completed measures of attachment dimensions, intragroup marginalisation, and endorsement of extreme pro-group actions. Individuals who were high in anxiety or avoidance reported heightened intragroup marginalisation from family and friends. In turn, friend intragroup marginalisation was associated with increased endorsement of pro-group actions. Our findings provide insight as to why insecurely attached bicultural individuals may be drawn to endorse extreme pro-group actions.

Highlights

At approximately 8:50 am on July 7th, 2005, a series of explosions in London killed 52 people and left more than 800 injured
Inclusion criteria for the study required each participant to have a different heritage and mainstream culture. 49% of participants reported that they were first-generation migrants (Myears residing in mainstream culture = 11.27, SD: 8.47); 51% were born and raised in a mainstream culture that was different to their heritage culture
The majority of participants reported living in a North American mainstream culture (83%); they reported living in Europe (15%), East Asia (1%), and the Middle East (1%)

Summary

Introduction

At approximately 8:50 am on July 7th, 2005, a series of explosions in London killed 52 people and left more than 800 injured. For the first time in modern terrorism, the threat was not wholly external – all four men responsible were British citizens who had been integrated into the mainstream culture. On the surface, they did not appear excluded from the mainstream culture, as one might expect from their radicalisation (Silber & Bhatt, 2007). ⁎ Corresponding author at: Psychology Department, Brunel University, London UB8 3PH, United Kingdom These examples suggest that radicalised individuals who are citizens of Western countries may be motivated in part by the struggle to find an identity (Silber & Bhatt, 2007). This research may shed light on some of the reasons why Westernised bicultural individuals might be drawn to joining extremist groups as a compensatory reaction in response to perceived rejection from their heritage culture

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion