The mediating role of emotions in the relationship between implicit motives and radicalisation

• Main Author: Wee, Yee Teng
• Other Authors: Ring Joyce Pang Shu Min
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166374
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This article proposes a novel mediation model of radicalisation. In the model, implicit power motive positively affects anger, which, in turn, positively affects the degree to which an individual radicalises. This model was tested through a quantitative content analysis of social media accounts belonging to 17 ISIS fighters and 18 ISIS sympathisers from different countries. More specifically, these social media accounts were assessed for levels of power motive imagery and anger. As predicted, implicit power motive had a direct positive effect on radicalisation; anger fully mediated the association between radicalisation; implicit power motive and anger was positively correlated with implicit power motive. This is the first study to probe the effects of both implicit motives and emotions concurrently in the process of radicalisation. Findings suggest the importance of going beyond targeting the general and religious community by examining individual characteristics of social media users to disrupt the pathway to radicalisation. Involvement of social psychology theories and research on personality psychology in the field of radicalisation, as well as new methodologies for studying radicalisation, are also discussed. Keywords: radicalisation, implicit motives, power, anger, social identity theory, social movement theory, significant quest theory, content analysis, mediation model