Abstract for: Understanding the Radicalization Process of Incels

The increase in online presence and more violent attacks have led to the recognition of the Incel movement as a domestic terror threat. Incels are an online community associated with extreme misogyny, who radicalize at home on the internet. To better understand the systemic radicalization of Incels and to explore potential policies, the System Dynamics approach was used. Criminological theories on radicalization form the foundation of the system dynamics model. The model shows the interconnectedness of various elements of the radicalization process. Due to uncertainties surrounding the Incel community, exploratory analyses were performed to provide insights into the behaviour of the radicalization process of Incels in different scenarios. The results of this study show that early interventions aimed at reducing the potentially interested individuals, minimizing Incel content on the internet and social media, and addressing mental health issues among young men, help reduce the growth of the Incel community. Recent trends in Incel violence highlight the need for understanding the susceptibility for extremist ideologies and the process of radicalization. This research has attempted to shed a light on the major feedback mechanisms and influential variables to understand and prevent the growth of the Incel community. Further work could focus on testing different extremist ideologies using this radicalization model, to gain understanding of all online radicalization processes.