(058) Incel and the Suspicious Mind: Paranoid Phenomenology of a Severe Form of Misogyny

Introduction The term Incel (involuntary celibates) is commonly used to refer to an online subculture composed mainly of heterosexual men who perceive themselves as unable to have heterosexual and consensual sexual or romantic relationships. More in general, Incels subjects represent a particular part of male population with an elevated attitude to misogynistic feelings. In these males, we cannot exclude the presence of specific psychopathological traits as paranoid ideation. Objective Based on this consideration, it is fundamental to study the role and the presence of paranoia symptomatology in individuals with an Incel attitude. Therefore, we aim to evaluate paranoia with its related facets in subjects self-declared Incels. Methods Through an online platform, we recruited a convenience sample of 233 male subjects (age=26.95±5.21) Recruited subjects completed a psychometric protocol that included completion of the following measures: we administered only the Paranoia Scale (PAR) of PAI (Personality Assessment Inventory), composed by 24 items subdivided into three subscales of hypervigilance, persecution, and resentment, and the Incel Trait Scale (ITS), a self-report questionnaire evaluating the Incel attitude, composed by 20 items along two domains, defeat and hateful. Results From our recruitment, the first evidence that we found is the subdivision of our sample into two subgroups based on the self-disclosure of Incel attitude (Incel: n=65; No-Incel: n=168). Statistically significant differences between these two groups were found in: paranoia total scale (Incel: mean=32.92±9.1; No-Incel: mean=28.54±6.39; p<.001), hypervigilance (Incel: mean=15.5±3.45; No-Incel: mean=13.82±3.22; p<.001), persecution (Incel: mean=10.49±3.89; No-Incel: mean=9.42±2.75; p=.02), resentment (Incel: mean=6.92±3.29; No-Incel: mean=5.28±2.09; p<.001). Moreover, several significant correlations in the total sample were found between ITS and paranoia scale and subscales. However, when we performed the linear regression assuming the ITS total score as the dependent variable, we found that both self-disclosure as Incel together with paranoia have a predictive role on the higher levels of ITS score. Conclusions Incel attitude appears to be an increasingly phenomenon with social, psychological and juridical implications, when deviant behaviors occur. However, sexual psychopathology is called to study Incel attitude and subjects from a psychopathological point of view to identify the eventual risk factor for the extreme misogyny. As hypothesized, paranoia is a strong risk factor for Incel attitude. Incel subjects show more paranoid symptoms compared to no-Incel. This evidence represents a pivotal key lecture of Incel phenomenon. Therefore, the psychopathological perspective is central to explain and prevent this very dangerous form of misogyny. Disclosure No