ABSTRACT

These days, political mobilization, particularly among young people, is on the rise. However, some of these people not only engage in legal and non-violent (activism) but also in illegal and violent actions (radicalism). In this work, we aimed to empirically explore these phenomena in greater detail, hypothesizing that younger (compared to older) adolescents are not only more prone to activism but also radicalism. We additionally aimed to investigate risk factors in this developmental period. In particular, we explored the possibility that social exclusion and a weak moral identity would make adolescents more readily express support for radicalism. In a study with four different Austrian high schools, activism and radicalism was assessed in mid- to late adolescents (14–19 years) using different validated measures. Moreover, we assessed participants’ moral identity and manipulated social exclusion. Results showed that participants in mid adolescence were more susceptible to activism and, in particular, radicalism than participants in late adolescence. Moreover, weak moral convictions revealed to be related to radicalism among mid-adolescents. Social exclusion did not moderate radicalism in adolescents. Illuminating age-related differences in activism and radicalism, the current study contributes to an empirical foundation of radicalism research and may animate means of prevention in developmental populations.

摘要

如今，政治动员，尤其是年轻人的政治动员正在兴起。然而，其中一些人不仅从事合法和非暴力（激进主义），而且还从事非法和暴力行动（激进主义）。在这项工作中，我们旨在更详细地实证探索这些现象，假设年轻（与年长相比）的青少年不仅更倾向于激进主义，而且更倾向于激进主义。我们还旨在调查这一发展时期的风险因素。我们特别探讨了社会排斥和弱道德认同会使青少年更容易表达对激进主义的支持的可能性。在对四所不同的奥地利高中进行的研究中，使用不同的有效措施对中晚期青少年（14-19 岁）的激进主义和激进主义进行了评估。而且，我们评估了参与者的道德认同并操纵了社会排斥。结果表明，与青春期后期的参与者相比，青春期中期的参与者更容易受到激进主义的影响，尤其是激进主义。此外，薄弱的道德信念表明与中期青少年的激进主义有关。社会排斥并没有缓和青少年的激进主义。目前的研究揭示了激进主义和激进主义与年龄相关的差异，有助于为激进主义研究奠定经验基础，并可能为发育人群的预防手段注入活力。薄弱的道德信念表明与中期青少年的激进主义有关。社会排斥并没有缓和青少年的激进主义。目前的研究揭示了激进主义和激进主义与年龄相关的差异，有助于为激进主义研究奠定经验基础，并可能为发育人群的预防手段注入活力。薄弱的道德信念表明与中期青少年的激进主义有关。社会排斥并没有缓和青少年的激进主义。目前的研究揭示了激进主义和激进主义与年龄相关的差异，有助于为激进主义研究奠定经验基础，并可能为发育人群的预防手段注入活力。