Hybrid ideologies and glorification of violence during adolescence: Links to support for violent and nonviolent radicalization.

Abstract

Adolescence is a seminal period for the development of ideologies and a time of heightened risk for both violent and nonviolent radicalization. Although mounting evidence points to the growing prevalence of hybrid ideologies and violence glorification among individuals legitimizing violence, empirical studies that document these emerging phenomena are scarce, especially among youth. If and how specific ideologies or their combination are associated with increased risks of psychological distress, violent and nonviolent radicalization, remains to be established. This study investigates ideological profiles of Canadian adolescents and their associations with support for violent and nonviolent radicalization and depressive symptoms. High school students (N = 574; M_age = 16.1; SD_age = 0.76; 47.7% girls) completed an online survey in 2024. A Latent Profile Analysis on support for multiple ideologies (i.e., nationalist, xenophobic, pro-environmental, masculinist, and pro-LGBTQ2S+ ideologies) and glorification of violence was conducted. Multinomial regression was used to explore the associations between profiles and study variables. Results identified four profiles (moderate nonviolent conservative, pro-violence masculinist, nonviolent progressive, and pro-violence conservative), which suggested complex combinations of conservative ideologies (xenophobia and masculinism) and glorification of violence. Girls, adolescents who reported higher nonviolent radicalization, and lower violent radicalization were more likely to belong to a nonviolent progressive profile. Lower activism distinguished pro-violence conservative profiles from nonviolent ones. Primary prevention efforts should address the glorification of violence among youth beyond specific ideologies and promote and allow nonviolent forms of activism and action to prevent violence.