Radicalisation and individual differences: Disinhibition, boldness and meanness as predictors of support for radical collective action

We conducted a study to answer the question of whether personality characteristics of nonclinical psychopathy (disinhibition, meanness, boldness) are associated with support for radical collective action (CA) and acceptance of group violence (N = 877). We introduced CA in three contexts: (a) respondents answered the question about CA on behalf of the country, (b) for the Independence March and its right-wing participants, or (c) for the For Our Freedom and Yours march and its left-wing participants. The results indicated that, of the three personality factors we examined, inhibition and meanness are associated with support for radical group actions (but not for moderate CA). Meanness is an important predictor of support for violent changes in the social system in the country. Disinhibition is related to support for non-normative activities for the right-wing and left-wing organisations. Moreover, in the case of the right-wing demonstration, group identification was a moderator of the relationship between disinhibition and radical CA. These results are discussed in light of the interplay of individual differences, group dynamics and group norms that prescribe violent actions.