Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience

Background: There have been sporadic and disturbing media accounts of autistic people engaging with extreme ideologies, with comparatively little systematic exploration of this suggested association. Existing research has failed to consider the contextual factors that could influence these rare occurrences of engagement with extreme ideologies. This study explores how autistic individuals involved in extreme ideologies describe personal and contextual factors affecting their participation. Methods: Twelve individuals from Canada and the United States who were either diagnosed or self-identified as autistic and have engaged with extreme ideologies participated in semistructured interviews. The research approach and analysis of the data were informed by interpretative phenomenological analysis. Our interdisciplinary team met regularly to collectively examine initial assumptions and interpretations, while maintaining a central focus on the perspectives of the participants. Results: We identified the following three key themes: (1) early wounds, (2) missed formative opportunities, and (3) finding a fit for neurodivergence. Traumatic experiences, disenfranchisement, learned hatred from an insular upbringing, and systemic failings in health and social service systems contributed to participants’ decisions to engage with extreme ideologies. Hate groups, in turn, filled the voids by providing acceptance, purpose, structure, sense of community, and by accommodating participants’ neurodivergent needs. Conclusion: Autism alone did not explain participants’ engagement with extreme ideologies. Trauma and disenfranchisement related to being neurodivergent were common factors that made hate groups more appealing. Proactive interventions to prevent engagement in extreme ideologies must champion inclusive environments that recognize autistic individuals’ skills and address underlying factors that contribute to their disenfranchisement.