Compensatory Control and Its Implications for Ideological Extremism

Kay, Aaron C.; Eibach, Richard P.

doi:10.1111/josi.12029

Cited by 117Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceSocial and Intergroup PsychologyDeath Anxiety and Social Exclusion

Compensatory Control and Its Implications for Ideological Extremism

Kay, Aaron C., Eibach, Richard P.·2013·Journal of Social Issues

DOI 10.1111/josi.12029

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Abstract

This article outlines and reviews evidence for a model of compensatory control designed to account for the motivated belief in personal and external sources of control. In doing so, we attempt to shed light on the content and strength of ideologies, including extreme libertarian, nationalist, socialist, and religious fundamentalist ideologies. We suggest that although these ideologies differ in their content they commonly function to provide people with a sense of control over otherwise random events. We propose that extreme ideologies of personal control (e.g., libertarianism) and external control (e.g., socialism, religious fundamentalism) are equifinal means of meeting a universal need to believe that things, in general, are under control—that is, that events do not unfold randomly or haphazardly. We use this model to explain how the adoption and strength of ideologies of personal and external control may vary across temporal and sociocultural contexts.

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Psychological models (uncertainty-identity theory, meaning maintenance model, compensatory control theory) elaborate how the defensive need to alleviate uncertainty leads to group identification, ideological inflexibility, and dogmatism.
“Psychological models, such as the uncertainty-identity theory [156], meaning maintenance model [157], and compensatory control theory [158,159], have elaborated on how the defensive need to alleviate uncertainty leads to group identification, ideological inflexibility, and dogmatism.”
From Impact of Media-Induced Uncertainty on Mental Health: Narrative-Based Perspective. (2025) · cites this paper as [159]

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Authors: Kay, A. C., & Eibach, R. P.
Affiliations: Duke University (US)
University of Waterloo (CA)
Corresponding author: Kay, Aaron C.
ORCID: Kay, Aaron C.
Eibach, Richard P.
Venue: Journal of Social Issues
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2013-09
Volume: 69
Issue: 3
Pages: 564-585
ISSN: 0022-4537 (ISSN-L)
1540-4560
DOI: 10.1111/josi.12029
OpenAlex: W1929029263
Cited by: 117
References: 68
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6
FWCI: 22.63
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 8 d)
Locations: Journal of Social Issues (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Keywords: compensatory control, ideological extremism, need for control, personal control, external control, libertarianism, nationalism, socialism, religious fundamentalism

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Compensatory Control and Its Implications for Ideological Extremism

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