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 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.
Highlights
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
In four studies, using three different manipulations of social exclusion, we evaluate the role of social exclusion as a potential first step in a possible radicalization process
The main differences between Studies 1–2 and Study 3 were that, 1) we used a single design for both left- and right-wing participants allowing us to analyze left- and right-wing radicalization using a single data set, 2) we used the Cyberball paradigm, which is well-established as a manipulation of ostracism, 3) we extended the previous design with other dependent variables, analyzing both identification and engagement with a radical group, and 4) we collected a considerably larger sample in Study 3 than in Studies 1 and 2
Summary
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. 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. 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 present article contributes to this grow ing literature by taking contextual, ideological, and individual factors into account in a single experimental research paradigm. We theorize about the possibility that socially excluded individuals who are provided an opportunity for inclusion will seize that opportunity, even if the including group is presented as extreme. In four studies, using three different manipulations of social exclusion, we evaluate the role of social exclusion as a potential first step in a possible radicalization process. Most scholars suggest that radicalization to violent extremism must be understood as a process whereby ordinary people adapt to more extreme views and even appreciate violence as a reasonable method to accomplish a certain goal (Kruglanski & Webber, 2014)
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