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Cited by 72Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual OffendingTerrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceStalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment

Incels, violence and mental disorder: a narrative review with recommendations for best practice in risk assessment and clinical intervention

Open access
Broyd, Josephine, Boniface, Lauren, Parsons, Damon, Murphy, David, Hafferty, Jonathan D·2023·BJPsych Advances
DOI 10.1192/bja.2022.15
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Abstract

SUMMARY: In recent years, mass violence associated with men who identify as involuntary celibates (incels) has been of increasing concern. Incels engage in an online community where misogyny and incitements to violence against women are prevalent, often owing to the belief that women are denying them a ‘right’ to sex. Indeed, inceldom can be considered a form of extremism. Information released about the prepetrators of incel-associated violence consistently suggests that mental disorder is a contributory factor and may increase vulnerability to engaging with the incel community. Depression, autism and personality disorder are particularly relevant. To date, there has been little research into the mental health of incels and how, in some, this contributes to violence. This article considers the associations between mental disorder and inceldom, including the risk factors for incel-related violence, and makes recommendations for best practice in risk assessment and clinical intervention.

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  • Multiple reasons can cause users to self-ban or delete their account: real-life relationship success, rejection of incel ideology due to personal growth, and successful mental health interventions.

    “Multiple reasons can cause the users to self-ban or delete their account: reallife relationship success, which provokes community exclusion; rejection of incel ideology due to personal growth; and successful mental health interventions [17].”

    From Exploring incel group dynamics: a computational study of hierarchy and group-boundary policing (2025) · cites this paper as [17]

    The Clinical interventions section discusses possible therapies but says further research is needed to establish their efficacy; it does not link treatment to leaving a forum. Searches for self-banning, account deletion, relationship success, personal growth, and leaving the community found no passage explaining why users delete accounts or are excluded. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Authors
Broyd, J., Boniface, L., Parsons, D., Murphy, D., & Hafferty, J. D.
Affiliations
  • Broadmoor Hospital (GB)
  • West London Mental Health NHS Trust (GB)
Corresponding author
Hafferty, Jonathan D
ORCID
Venue
BJPsych Advances
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
2022-05-26
Volume
29
Issue
4
Pages
254-264
ISSN
  • 2056-4678 (ISSN-L)
  • 2056-4686
DOI
10.1192/bja.2022.15
OpenAlex
W4281550386
Cited by
72
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 20 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
BJPsych Advances (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment
Keywords
incels, involuntary celibacy, mass violence, misogyny, violence against women, mental illness, depression, autism spectrum disorder, personality disorders, risk assessment, clinical intervention, extremism, risk factors

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