Unveiling the Path to Violence: Exploring the Mobilization of Incels
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Advisor Information
Mentor
Location
CEC RM #201/205/209
Presentation Type
Poster
Poster Size
36 X 48
Start Date
22-3-2024 10:30 AM
End Date
22-3-2024 11:45 AM
Abstract
In the wake of the 2014 Isla Vista killings, where a self-described “incel” killed 6 and left 14 injured, there has been a sharp escalation in Incel related violence and radicalization. The term "incel" originates from "Involuntary Celibate" and denotes individuals who belong to a violent extremist group founded on the belief that society unfairly withholds sexual or romantic attention from them, which they feel entitled to receive. Incels predominately exist online and direct their violence towards individuals who they believe are unjustly denying them sexual or romantic attention. The increase of violence and radicalization has led to a need for a better understanding of how incels prepare and mobilize to violence. The current research uses open-source data to examine the manifestation of a subset of mobilization indicators identified in the 2021 Mobilization Indicators Booklet, across 18 federally arrested incels, including behavior related to threatening individuals and communities, communicating intent to engage in violence, and identifying the details of an attack. The 2021 Mobilization Indicator Booklet is a handbook designed by the FBI, NCTC, and DHS to help federal and state level law enforcement identify when an individual is mobilizing to violence. This research offers a glimpse into how incels prepare and mobilize to violence and can be used to better inform prevention and intervention measures.
Unveiling the Path to Violence: Exploring the Mobilization of Incels
CEC RM #201/205/209
In the wake of the 2014 Isla Vista killings, where a self-described “incel” killed 6 and left 14 injured, there has been a sharp escalation in Incel related violence and radicalization. The term "incel" originates from "Involuntary Celibate" and denotes individuals who belong to a violent extremist group founded on the belief that society unfairly withholds sexual or romantic attention from them, which they feel entitled to receive. Incels predominately exist online and direct their violence towards individuals who they believe are unjustly denying them sexual or romantic attention. The increase of violence and radicalization has led to a need for a better understanding of how incels prepare and mobilize to violence. The current research uses open-source data to examine the manifestation of a subset of mobilization indicators identified in the 2021 Mobilization Indicators Booklet, across 18 federally arrested incels, including behavior related to threatening individuals and communities, communicating intent to engage in violence, and identifying the details of an attack. The 2021 Mobilization Indicator Booklet is a handbook designed by the FBI, NCTC, and DHS to help federal and state level law enforcement identify when an individual is mobilizing to violence. This research offers a glimpse into how incels prepare and mobilize to violence and can be used to better inform prevention and intervention measures.