The role of moral identity in ideological obsession and violent extremism

Abstract This research examines how ideological passion shapes moral identity and support for political violence, drawing on the Dualistic Model of Passion to distinguish between obsessive (OP) and harmonious passion (HP). Across six studies with diverse ideological groups, OP consistently predicted the adoption of a villainous moral identity, whereas HP predicted a heroic identity. Studies 1A ( N = 202; Democrats) and 1B ( N = 232; Republicans) showed that OP was associated with villain identity, which mediated support for political violence. Study 2 ( N = 315; environmentalists) experimentally manipulated passion, demonstrating that an OP mindset increased villain identification and violent endorsement. Study 3 ( N = 179; Black Lives Matter supporters) manipulated moral identity directly, revealing that adopting a villain role amplified support for political violence. Studies 4 ( N = 277; U.S. Muslims) and 5 ( N = 294; Republicans, preregistered) examined mechanisms of appeal, showing that OP individuals perceived villains as warm, which reinforced villain identification. Finally, Study 6 ( N = 236; environmentalists) showed that villain identity was tied to a coherent pattern of moral inversion—villains recast as justified and not harmful, heroes as harmful—which in turn predicted support for political violence.