"Why I Took the Blackpill": A Thematic Analysis of the Radicalization Process in Incel Communities

TL;DR

This paper analyzes social media posts to understand how incels become radicalized, identifying key themes and stages that align with radicalization processes in other extremist groups.

Contribution

It provides the first thematic analysis of incel radicalization, outlining a four-stage process with six major themes, linking incel radicalization to broader extremist radicalization models.

Findings

Identified six major themes in incel radicalization

Mapped themes into four chronological stages

Aligned incel radicalization with other extremist radicalization models

Abstract

Incels, or "involuntary celibates", are an extreme, misogynistic hate group that exists entirely online. Members of the community have been linked to acts of offline violence, including mass shootings. Previous research has engaged with the ideologies and beliefs of incels, but none has looked specifically at the radicalization process. In this paper, we perform a thematic analysis on social media posts where incels describe their own radicalization process. We identified six major themes grouped into four chronological steps: Pre-radicalization (themes of Appearance, Social Isolation, and Psychological issues), Searching for Blame, Radicalization, and Post Radicalization. These results align closely with existing work on radicalization among other extremist groups, bringing incel radicalization inline with a growing body of research on understanding and managing radicalization.