University of Twente Student Theses
Involuntary celibacy : personality traits amongst misogynistic online communities
Grunau, Karolin (2020) Involuntary celibacy : personality traits amongst misogynistic online communities.
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| Abstract: | In the present study, the strength of misogynistic views and personality traits of involuntary celibates (Incels) were explored. An online survey was distributed in social media and across various Incel forums. Participants (N = 208) were administered the extra-short form of the Big Five personality test, the BFI-2-XS (Soto & John, 2017), the Hostility Towards Women Scale (Check, 1985) and the Ingroup Ties Scale (Cameron, 2004). Three scales, Incel Status, Incel Forum Activity and a Level of Inceldom scale were developed by the researchers, in order to measure participants’ relative level of Inceldom and their associated online activity. Participants included 20 self-identified Incels and 103 associated Incels (Individuals scoring high on Inceldom scale). It was hypothesised that Incels significantly differ in their personality traits from non-Incels and that their personality relates to their level of Inceldom, Incel identification, use of online Incel forums and strength of misogynistic views. Results of independent sample t-tests, Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses suggest that Incels certainly differ in their misogyny levels and personality: Self-identified Incels showed significantly stronger misogynistic views, lower extraversion, lower agreeableness and higher neuroticism than non-Incels. Furthermore, a high level of Inceldom was correlated with low conscientiousness, low extraversion, low agreeableness and high neuroticism. Agreeableness and neuroticism were found to be the most predominant personality traits linked to involuntary celibacy. However, limitations of this study must be taken into account when examining the results, such as the small sample size of self-identified Incels. Nevertheless, this study introduces psychological insight into one of the new online communities in this century. With more extensive knowledge about the personality and attitudes of these members, one might be able to contribute towards interventions designed to reduce misogyny online and in the physical world. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/81904 |
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