Abstract
Chronic social exclusion has been linked to radicalization processes in real-world terrorismcases. However, experimental research regarding this link has focused on situationalexperiences of exclusion, not accounting for chronicity of exclusion. Given the differences inthe psychological consequences of chronic and short-term exclusion, across three studies, weinvestigated the association between chronic social exclusion and radicalism (i.e., readinessto engage in violent and illegal political action) as well as activism (i.e., readiness to engagein non-violent and legal political action). We hypothesized that chronicity might act as a keycondition for the effect of social exclusion on radicalism. In a survey study (N = 370), thefrequency of different types of exclusion experiences positively predicted radical intentions.In a quasi-experimental survey study (N = 324), participants who reported chronic exclusion(vs. no exclusion) in their everyday lives reported higher radical intentions. Participants whoreported only short-term exclusion did not differ in radical intentions from those reporting noexclusion. In a five-month longitudinal study with weekly assessments (N = 343, k = 5,319assessments), average exclusion experiences across the five-month period (i.e., a chronicassessment of exclusion) positively predicted radical intentions and behaviors. Acrossstudies, chronic exclusion was associated with radicalism, but not activism. Thus, chronicexperiences of social exclusion might drive radical intentions and behaviors, highlightingchronicity as a relevant yet understudied factor of the exclusion-radicalism link. In light ofthese findings, reducing chronic experiences of exclusion might represent a particularlypromising avenue for the prevention of radicalism.