A new study by the University of Cambridge has found that individuals with extremist tendencies share a common psychological profile, characterized by low mental capacity. Extremist ideologies, such as left and right-wing extremism, as well as religious fanaticism, often have a clear division between good and evil, leading to simple solutions and recommendations for action. This often results in extremist followers attempting to enforce their beliefs through violence against perceived enemies. Current approaches to prevent radicalization mainly rely on demographic data, such as age, gender, and ethnicity, which have limited predictive power. The study aimed to identify extremist tendencies based on psychological traits.
The study involved 334 participants who completed a series of personality and cognitive tests, including word recall, sorting colored discs, and making quick decisions. The personality test measured emotional control, determination, and social and emotional risk-taking. The team also asked participants about their religious and political beliefs, including questions about family values, patriotism, gun ownership, and willingness to use violence against those with different opinions. Statistical methods were used to determine whether there were correlations between the answers to these questions and the results of the personality and cognitive tests.
The study found that individuals with extremist tendencies have a common psychological profile characterized by low mental capacity. The results also showed that other political beliefs can be identified based on personality traits. The study’s findings could help identify individuals susceptible to political and religious extremism and prevent their radicalization through targeted prevention programs. Compared to current methods that rely on demographic data, the statistical model incorporating cognitive and personality traits is four to fifteen times more effective in identifying individuals with extremist tendencies.
