Extremism And The Psychology Of Uncertainty

• Systematically integrates and explores the growing diversity of social psychological perspectives on the uncertainty—extremism relationship
• Showcases contemporary cutting edge scientific research from leading international scholars
• Offers a broad perspective on extremism and focuses on a wide variety of different forms, facets and manifestations
• Accessible to social and behavioral scientists, policy makers and those with a genuine interest in understanding the psychology of extremism

Michael Hogg is Professor of Social Psychology at Claremont Graduate University, a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, and Foundation Editor of Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. His books include Leadership and Power (2005) with van Knippenberg, The Social Psychology of Inclusion and Exclusion (2005) with Abrams and Marques, the Encyclopaedia of Group Processes and Intergroup Relations (2010) with Levine.

PART I: Theories and Concepts.

1.The need for certainty as a psychological nexus for individuals and society (Arie Kruglanski and Edward Orehek, University of Maryland).

2.Self-uncertainty, social identity and the solace of extremism (Michael A. Hogg, Claremont Graduate University).

3.Extremism is normal: The roles of deviance and uncertainty in shaping groups and society (Dominic Abrams, University of Kent, UK).

4.The psychology of the absurd: How existentialists addressed (and succumbed to) extremist beliefs (Travis Proulx, Simon Fraser University, Canada).

5. Radical worldview defense in reaction to personal uncertainty (Kees van den Bos and Annemarie Loseman, Utrecht University, The Netherlands).

6. The uncertainty-threat model of political conservatism (John T. Jost, New York University and Jaime L. Napier, Yale University).

PART II: Individuals and Groups.

7. Dying to be popular: A purposive explanation of adolescent willingness to endure harm (Jason T. Siegel, William D. Crano, Eusebio M. Alvaro, Andrew Lac, David Rast, and Vanessa Kettering, Claremont Graduate University).

8. The extremism of everyday life: Fetishism as a defense against existential uncertainty (Mark J. Landau, Zach Rothschild and Daniel Sullivan, University of Kansas).

9. Religious zeal after goal frustration (Ian McGregor, Kylie A. Nash, and Mike Prentice, York University, Canada).

10. Dehumanization, demonization and morality shifting: Paths to moral certainty in extremist violence (Roger Giner-Sorolla, University of Kent, Bernhard Leidner, and Emanuele Castano, New School for Social Research).

11. Light from dark: Uncertainty and extreme positive acts toward the “other” (Todd L. Pittinsky, Stony Brook University).

PART III: Groups and Society

12. Uncertainty, insecurity, and ideological defense of the status quo: The extremitizing role of political expertise (Christopher M. Federico and Grace M. Deason, University of Minnesota).

13. Authoritarianism, need for closure and conditions of threat (Jennifer Merolla, Claremont Graduate University, Jennifer Ramos, Loyola Marymont University, Los Angeles, and Elizabeth Zechmeister, Vanderbilt University).

14. Constructing extremism: Uncertainty provocation and reduction by extremist leaders (Viviane Seyranian, Claremont Graduate University).

15. Collective uncertainty and extremism: A further discussion on the collective roots of subjective experience (Fathali Moghaddam and Karen Love, Georgetown University).

16. Uncertainty, and the roots and prevention of genocide and terrorism (Ervin Staub, University of Massachusetts).