Mechanisms of 3N Model on Radicalization: Testing the Mediation by Group Identity and Ideology of the Relationship between Need for Significance and Violent Extremism

The abortion divide: Exploring the role of exclusion, loss of significance and identity in the radicalization process

“…Belonging to a group can restore significance and recent research show that loss of significance increases subsequent extreme group identification (Bäck et al, 2018a;Renström et al, 2020). Recent studies also show that the link between significance loss and radicalization is mediated by identification with the ingroup (Knapton et al, 2022;Milla et al, 2022).…”

“…In the radicalization literature, research also shows that marginalization and social exclusion seem to function to evoke a quest for significance. For instance, marginalized minority community members who feel a loss of significance are more likely to report increased support of fundamentalist groups, and recent experimental studies have linked social exclusion as a source of significance loss as a causal factor in individuals joining radical groups ( Lyons-Padilla et al, 2015 ; Renström et al, 2020 ; Milla et al, 2022 ). Although there is a strong overlap in the need-fortification hypothesis and the quest for significance such that both are based on the need to restore fundamental human needs ( Williams, 2007 , 2009 ; Kruglanski et al, 2014 ; Knapton et al, 2015 ), there is very limited research exploring them in relation to one another ( Renström et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Identity is a key component when considering radicalization. Research indicates that ingroup identity to an extreme group is an important factor in determining how much an individual will endorse or engage in extreme actions ( Hogg et al, 2010 ; Hogg and Blaylock, 2011 ; Hogg, 2014 ; Aghabi et al, 2017 ; Strindberg, 2020 ; Wagoner et al, 2021 ; Milla et al, 2022 ). Moreover, to restore status following significance loss, individuals may identify with an extreme group ( Milla et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Research indicates that ingroup identity to an extreme group is an important factor in determining how much an individual will endorse or engage in extreme actions ( Hogg et al, 2010 ; Hogg and Blaylock, 2011 ; Hogg, 2014 ; Aghabi et al, 2017 ; Strindberg, 2020 ; Wagoner et al, 2021 ; Milla et al, 2022 ). Moreover, to restore status following significance loss, individuals may identify with an extreme group ( Milla et al, 2022 ). Given the shifts in identity following an episode of exclusion, the pathway between an episode of exclusion, associated with significance loss, and radical actions will be mediated ingroup identification.…”

“…Finally, identity is an important predictor in radical actions ( Hogg et al, 2010 ; Hogg and Blaylock, 2011 ; Hogg, 2014 ; Aghabi et al, 2017 ; Strindberg, 2020 ; Wagoner et al, 2021 ; Milla et al, 2022 ). Given that increased ingroup identity may be used to buffer and fortify threatened needs following exclusion, those in the minority who experience threatened needs may identify more strongly with an activist group and in turn show increased willingness to participate in and endorse radical actions on behalf of an activist group (see conceptual model in Figure 1 ).…”