Over the last few years, topics of extremism and radicalization have reached the forefront of concern in gaming communities. In 2019, The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that one in ten young gamers (aged 13 – 17) are exposed to white supremist ideology in games. That is just the tip of the iceberg.
While we know extremist content, radicalization, and recruitment is occurring in games, there is still little understanding how and why this may be of a particular concern within gaming communities.
In this new research article we explore the role of identity fusion as one potential mechanism through which extremist ideology may permeate through game players and gaming communities. The findings of this work contribute to a greater theoretical understanding of the potential psychological processes that may bolster radicalization within these communities. We also hope that these findings will help to guide the development of proactive, rather than reactive, solutions in the future.
Read Not just a game: Identity fusion and extremism in gaming cultures.
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