AUTHOR=Isenhardt Anna , Kamenowski Maria , Manzoni Patrik , Haymoz Sandrine , Jacot Cédric , Baier Dirk TITLE=Identity Diffusion and Extremist Attitudes in Adolescence JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711466 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711466 ISSN=1664-1078 ABSTRACT=

Various theoretical approaches assume that identity diffusion is an influencing factor of extremism. However, there are hardly any empirical tests on this relationship. Based on a nationwide survey of 8,317 young people in Switzerland, the study analyses whether identity diffusion is associated with right-wing extremist, left-wing extremist, and Islamist extremist attitudes. In addition, the study tests whether identity diffusion mediates the influence of family and school-related variables on extremist attitudes. The results show that identity diffusion primarily increases approval of left-wing extremist and Islamist extremist attitudes. Furthermore, identity diffusion mediates to a small extent the influence of parenting on extremist attitudes.