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From relatedness frustrated to violent extremism: the mediating role of aggression.

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Title: From relatedness frustrated to violent extremism: the mediating role of aggression.
Authors: Waterschoot, Milena (AUTHOR), Waterschoot, Joachim (AUTHOR), Roets, Arne (AUTHOR)
Source: Motivation & Emotion. Jun2026, Vol. 50 Issue 3, p389-402. 14p.
Subjects: Aggression (Psychology), Self-determination theory, Cognitive structures, Motivation (Psychology), Satisfaction, Radicalism, Empathy, Social alienation
Abstract: The present study builds on the Significance Quest Theory to investigate the mechanisms that render individuals susceptible to violent extremism. Through a survey study, we examined how feelings of (in)significance, conceptualized as the Self-Determination Theory's needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, relate to violent extremist attitudes. We tested models for both need frustration and satisfaction, including aggression as mediator, and simple knowledge beliefs and empathic concern as moderators. Our findings demonstrate that relatedness frustration is a prominent risk factor for violent extremism, whereas relatedness satisfaction serves as a protective factor. The unique impact of autonomy and competence were relatively limited. Furthermore, increased levels of aggression partly explained the relationship between relatedness frustration and violent extremism, and simple knowledge beliefs and empathic concern respectively strengthened and weakened the relationship between aggression and violent extremism. These findings help to understand how feelings of insignificance can instill a susceptibility to violent extremism, and how addressing relatedness may be key for deradicalization programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Motivation & Emotion is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: From relatedness frustrated to violent extremism: the mediating role of aggression.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Waterschoot%2C+Milena%22">Waterschoot, Milena</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Waterschoot%2C+Joachim%22">Waterschoot, Joachim</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roets%2C+Arne%22">Roets, Arne</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Motivation+%26+Emotion%22">Motivation & Emotion</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 50 Issue 3, p389-402. 14p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Aggression+%28Psychology%29%22">Aggression (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-determination+theory%22">Self-determination theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+structures%22">Cognitive structures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motivation+%28Psychology%29%22">Motivation (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satisfaction%22">Satisfaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radicalism%22">Radicalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+alienation%22">Social alienation</searchLink>
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  Data: The present study builds on the Significance Quest Theory to investigate the mechanisms that render individuals susceptible to violent extremism. Through a survey study, we examined how feelings of (in)significance, conceptualized as the Self-Determination Theory's needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence, relate to violent extremist attitudes. We tested models for both need frustration and satisfaction, including aggression as mediator, and simple knowledge beliefs and empathic concern as moderators. Our findings demonstrate that relatedness frustration is a prominent risk factor for violent extremism, whereas relatedness satisfaction serves as a protective factor. The unique impact of autonomy and competence were relatively limited. Furthermore, increased levels of aggression partly explained the relationship between relatedness frustration and violent extremism, and simple knowledge beliefs and empathic concern respectively strengthened and weakened the relationship between aggression and violent extremism. These findings help to understand how feelings of insignificance can instill a susceptibility to violent extremism, and how addressing relatedness may be key for deradicalization programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Motivation & Emotion is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194092585
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        Value: 10.1007/s11031-025-10140-2
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        Text: English
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              Text: Jun2026
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              Y: 2026
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