Social Isolation and Extremist Communities

Abstract

Extremist communities often attract individuals experiencing social isolation, emotional disconnection, perceived marginalization, and a lack of belonging. These groups offer identity, purpose, shared grievance, and community support, which can motivate individuals to adopt radical values and endorse adversarial ideologies. This study examines how loneliness and exclusion catalyze recruitment into extremist communities, both physical and digital. Using a hypothetical multi-country dataset (UK, Bangladesh, Brazil), this research identifies psychological pathways linking isolation to extremist involvement, including identity dissolution, attachment deficits, grievance amplification, and digital echo-chambers. The paper proposes a multi-level prevention model emphasizing social reintegration, community resilience, and identity-based interventions rather than surveillance alone.