A study of self-identified incels has revealed three distinct clusters based on their beliefs: “externalizers” who blame society, “hopers” seeking improvement, and “internalizers” who blame themselves and experience intense emotional distress. Understanding these distinctions could help guide interventions and support for individuals within the incel community. The study has been published in the journal Psychology of Men & Masculinity.
The term “incel” stands for “involuntary celibate.” It refers to individuals, predominantly men, who claim to be unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one. Initially, it was intended as a support group for people struggling with romantic failures. However, the incel movement has gained attention due to its online presence and the involvement of some members in acts of violence, specifically targeting women and society at large.
Scholarly research on self-identified incels has primarily focused on the threat they pose to others, particularly women. This research has largely overlooked the emotional struggles, such as depression and loneliness, experienced by incels. Recent evidence suggests that the most severe risk posed by incels might be to themselves, including depression and suicidal ideation.
“Having written two prior scholarly articles on self-described incels, it struck me that the differentiation between those who advocate for or approve of violence and those who do not was not adequately studied in the literature,” explained study author Molly Ellenberg, a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland and a research fellow at the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism
“I was interested in using statistical techniques to clearly explain how self-described incels could be categorized based on their violent ideation, suicidal ideation, and belief in (whether they use the term or not) the ‘white pill’ – the idea that they could leave inceldom. Given that incels as a group are often referred to as a terrorist or violent extremist threat, alongside the previous statistical evidence that a majority of self-described incels do not intend to engage in violence, it seemed important to me to explore this distinction using quantitative methods.”
The researchers used the “3N model of radicalization” as a framework to understand the incel community. This model consists of three necessary elements for engaging in extremist behavior:
- Need: The motivating force behind the behavior, often the need for significance or validation.
- Narrative: The cultural norms and values that guide adherents on how to gain significance and address their grievances.
- Network: The group of like-minded individuals who validate the narrative and provide social support.
The researchers conducted a study involving 272 self-described incels active on an online forum. They aimed to analyze the different clusters within the incel community based on their beliefs about the permanence of their situation, their support for violence, and their self-reported self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Based on the 3N model, the researchers identified three distinct clusters within the incel community based on their responses to the survey questions.
Cluster 1 (Externalizers): This group reported higher levels of self-reported violent thoughts, agreement with violent statements, and perceived dangerousness. They blamed societal factors such as gender equality, Western society, and feminism for their situation. This cluster included 54 respondents.
Cluster 2 (Hopers): This group had less intense self-reported self-harm and suicidal thoughts. They did not significantly differ from other clusters in terms of externalizing blame, but they were more likely to be happy and open to seeking help for social skills. This cluster included 113 respondents.
Cluster 3 (Internalizers): This group had the highest levels of self-reported self-harm and suicidal thoughts. They expressed more intense agreement with statements justifying violence and rape. They adhered to a narrative that placed the blame on themselves, rather than external factors. This cluster included 90 respondents.
“It is a small but significant minority (around 20%) of self-described incels who encourage or even intend to commit acts of violence related to their ideology,” Ellenberg told PsyPost. “Whereas these individuals should be the focus of intervention tactics and efforts to counter radicalization to a violent misogynist ideology, there is also a vast need for other types of interventions among other, larger numbers of self-described incels who are highly depressed and even suicidal.”
“There is also a possibility that the longer someone identifies as an incel, the more likely they are to come to believe that their situation is permanent and that violence is their best if not only means to personal significance. Therefore, people aiming to intervene with and help self-identified incels should focus on identifying them early on and providing them with accessible mental healthcare.”
The findings sheds light on potential differences in psychological characteristics and narratives among incels. But it’s important to note that the study’s findings are based on self-reported data from a specific subset of individuals who identify as incels. The study did not use psychometrically validated measures for psychological symptoms due to the community’s cynicism toward mental health assessment.
“The most important caveats to this research are that a) we did not use validated measures of psychological symptoms of clinical disorders and that b) this population is prone to ‘shit-posting’ and may not have been entirely honest in their answers,” Ellenberg said. “Future research should attempt to obtain more valid measures of psychopathology and should also attempt to link survey answers with online behavior, without jeopardizing confidentiality, of course.”
The study, “Beyond Violent Extremism: A 3N Perspective of Inceldom“, was authored by Molly Ellenberg, Anne Speckhard, and Arie W. Kruglanski.
