Political ‘extremists’ and ‘moderates’: psychological mechanisms and social perceptions

We invite research focused on the psychological and social underpinnings of political and ideological extremism and perceptions of what constitutes being politically ‘moderate’. We are particularly interested in research that explores the behavioural, perceptual, and motivational mechanisms behind radical beliefs and actions, with a specific focus on social and behavioural psychology frameworks.

We encourage submissions on the following key research themes: 

• Definitions and identity processes: What defines a ‘moderate’ versus an ‘extremist’, and how do these identities form and shift over time and in different political contexts. 
• Perceptions and social judgement: Social desirability, likeability, and perceptions of competence/trustworthiness in extremist versus moderate political figures (e.g., think the classic opinion poll question: ‘Which of these politicians would you rather hang out with?’). 
• Social norms and deviance: How social conformity or norm violations affect support for radical versus moderate actors. 
• Group dynamics and polarisation: The role of in-group/out-group psychology in entrenching or rejecting extremism. 
• Language, discourse, and signalling: How extremists use rhetorical framing, emotional language, or identity signalling to recruit and retain supporters. 
• Motivational alignment: The psychological mechanisms that link individual voters’ identity with ideological congruence or dissonance with political leaders. 
• Support dynamics: The conditions defining when and why political moderates support extremist candidates (e.g., goal commitment, moral clarity). 
• Moral foundations and belief systems: How different moral frameworks (e.g., care/harm, loyalty/betrayal) shape radical political engagement. 
• Contextual variations: Extremism across domains—nationalist, religious, environmental, or ideological—examined through a psychological lens. 
• Issue-based radicalism: Case studies on hot-button issues (e.g., abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, education, or church–state relations) that serve as as flashpoints for radical engagement.