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Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

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Cultural threat perceptions predict violent extremism via need for cognitive closure.

Milan Obaidi^1,2,3, Gulnaz Anjum^2,4, Kinga Bierwiaczonek^2,5

¹Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 8, 2023

Summary

Perceived cultural threats increase violent extremism by heightening the need for cognitive closure (NFC). This psychological pathway was confirmed across diverse global samples and experimental designs, linking cultural threat to extremism via NFC.

Keywords:

individual differences need for cognitive closure political extremism threat perception violent extremism

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Area of Science:

Social Psychology
Political Psychology
Conflict Studies

Background:

Violent extremism is a significant global challenge.
Understanding its psychological drivers is crucial for effective intervention.
Existing research highlights various contributing factors, but the specific cognitive mechanisms are debated.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the psychological pathway linking perceived cultural threats to violent extremism.
To examine the mediating role of the need for cognitive closure (NFC).
To test this model across diverse international samples and experimental settings.

Main Methods:

Six studies involving general population samples (Denmark, Afghanistan, Pakistan, France, international) and former Mujahideen.
Mediation analyses (single-level and multilevel) and known-group comparisons.
Two preregistered experiments manipulating cultural threat and NFC, supported by meta-analytic structural equation modeling.

Main Results:

Perceived cultural threats significantly predicted violent extremist outcomes.
The need for cognitive closure (NFC) consistently mediated this relationship across studies.
Experimental manipulations confirmed the causal roles of cultural threat and NFC in driving extremism.

Conclusions:

Perceived cultural threats foster violent extremism by increasing individuals' need for cognitive closure.
This psychological mechanism provides a robust explanation for the link between cultural threat and extremist behavior.
Findings underscore the importance of addressing perceived threats and cognitive needs in counter-extremism strategies.