Social identity theory applied to the study of extremist group formation: a review of relevant research

Since its inception, various theories about social identity have been concerned with trying to explain the extreme behavior of individuals carried out in the context of group membership. The article describes the prerequisites for the formation of the theory of social identity, as well as its relevance to the study of extremism. The key points are the comparison between personal and social identity and the emphasis on the importance of group membership in overcoming uncertainty: the more uncertain people are, the more likely they are to identify with a social category to which they can effectively belong to. Extremist groups have the unique ability to create a self-fulfilling social identity devoid of uncertainty, so it is necessary to study such phenomena to understand how their mechanisms of attraction work and to create ways to prevent them.