This project seeks to bring together different psychological perspectives to explore what drives people to accept, support, or participate in radical and violent group actions. In the research we focus on three personality characteristics related to aggressive and violent behavior (i.e., disinhibition, boldness and meanness).
The need to integrate research from social psychology and individual differences in order to examine motivation to support collective action was emphasized by Duncan (2012). She identified numerous personality characteristics linked to action on behalf of one’s group. Collective action (CA) can be defined as action directed at improving the conditions of one’s group. Violent CA, is an action that ‘involves the use of physical force with the intention to physically hurt other people or damage property’ (Saab et al., 2016). Empirical studies in the area of violent CAs remain scarce. Group identification, injustice appraisal, and group efficacy are important factors that explain motivation to engage in CA. However, the role of individual differences in shaping the willingness to engage in CA has been less explored.
The general scientific goal of the project is to integrate results of the research from the area of violent behaviors, conducted from the perspective of personality trait analyses and social psychology. To date, dispositional factors related to antisocial and aggressive behaviors are not often included in the research on violent CAs, although results on the self-reported scales of antisocial tendencies have been linked to variables important for understanding social behaviors, such as SDO, prejudice, perceived intergroup threats, dehumanization, support of political issues, and sexist and violent attitudes. The presented project aims at the integration of the different psychological perspectives to more fully understand the motivation to accept, support, and join violent group actions.
We also would like to go beyond the previous models, and extend them in two novel ways: by analyzing additional personality traits and by examining the role of perceived group norms and self-interest in the personality–CA relationship. In the presented project, we concentrate on the three personality characteristics related to aggressive behaviors and violent actions (i.e., disinhibition, boldness, and meanness). Based on the results of research and clinical studies on antisocial behavior, inclusion of traits, such as disinhibition, boldness, and meanness, could complement current models of radical group actions. Those constructs are part of the triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy that was recently developed (Patrick et al., 2009).
Disinhibition is understood as weak impulse control and externalization. Research has shown that disinhibition is linked to impulsivity and hostile tendencies. Boldness is understood as fearless dominance or daringness. Previous studies found that boldness is associated with narcissism and thrill seeking. Meanness is understood as callousness or cold- heartedness. It is associated with Machiavellianism and low empathy.
The project will combine an experimental approach, a correlative approach, and field surveys. The overall scientific objective of the project is to integrate the results of research in the area of violent actions, conducted from the perspective of social psychology regarding personality traits and individual differences. Read more on preliminary findings here: https://www.psypost.org/non-clinical-psychopathic-traits-linked-to-support-of-violent-social-change/