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Published on: September 28, 2018
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Cultural threat perceptions predict violent extremism via need for cognitive closure
Milan Obaidi1,2,3, Gulnaz Anjum2,4, Kinga Bierwiaczonek2,5
1Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark.
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.
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.
Keywords:
individual differencesneed for cognitive closurepolitical extremismthreat perceptionviolent extremismMore Related Videos
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