This new study reports on empirical research examining the relationship between basic psychological needs and extremism. The authors hypothesized that frustration of these needs could be a risk factor for extremism. The study involved a sample of 1,019 participants who completed surveys measuring psychological needs, aggression, empathy, personality, and support for various extremist groups. The results showed that frustration of basic psychological needs was significantly correlated with extremism, as well as with several control variables. Relatedness was found to be the strongest predictor of extremism across all models, while competence was a significant predictor in most models.
The authors found that the addition of basic psychological needs significantly improved the prediction of extremism in regression models, suggesting that addressing these needs could be an effective strategy for preventing extremism. They suggest that deradicalization programs may benefit from helping radicalized individuals fulfill their needs in ways that do not involve extremist groups, and that increasing need fulfillment among the general population, especially high-risk individuals, may be an effective pathway to extremist prevention.
Surprisingly, the authors also found that several variables, including affective dissonance, antagonism, disinhibition, and verbal aggression, were more strongly related to extremism than basic psychological needs. This suggests that modern right-wing extremism may have unique risk and maintenance factors that differ from other forms of extremism.
The authors note that while variables such as empathy, psychopathy, and aggression appear stronger predictors of extremism at the zero-order level, they may not be promising targets for prevention and deradicalization efforts. In contrast, basic psychological needs are considered malleable characteristics that can respond to life circumstances, making them more promising targets for intervention.
The authors conclude that frustration of basic psychological needs may be an important aspect of extremism risk, and suggest that addressing these needs may be an effective strategy for preventing and deradicalizing individuals. They also suggest that further research is needed to explore the unique risk and maintenance factors of modern right-wing extremism and to better understand the relationship between psychological needs and extremism.