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This interdisciplinary PhD project investigates how experiences and narratives of victimhood shape pathways toward — and resistance against — radicalisation, extremism, hate speech, and polarisation in Europe. It asks why some people and groups translate experiences of victimhood and feelings of injustice into anger and hostility, while others develop empathy and solidarity. The project combines political psychology, criminology, and digital media research to explore these dynamics across psychological and online environments.

You will design and conduct cross-national surveys and experiments examining how different types of victimhood (paradigmatic vs ressentimentful) influence emotions, political attitudes, and radicalisation expressions. You will also engage in digital ethnography and content analysis of online spaces such as gaming platforms and the manosphere, analysing how victimhood narratives circulate, gain traction, and shape community dynamics. A qualitative phase will focus on individuals and groups who successfully resist radicalising narratives, identifying protective and resilience-building factors.

Supervised by Professor Tereza Capelos (Political Science / Political Psychology, University of Southampton) and Dr Ashton Kingdon (Criminology, University of Southampton) [with Professor Mikko Salmela (University of Helsinki) as external supervisor], you will gain advanced training in mixed-methods research, experimental design, and digital data analysis. You will join the University of Southampton’s vibrant research centres and research groups (C-BEAR, CDF, GAIN), benefiting from interdisciplinary collaboration and professional development.

The project offers the opportunity to generate academic and social impact by advancing understanding of victimhood identities, grievance, emotion, and resilience against radicalisation and extremism— and by generating insights relevant to promoting democratic cohesion in a digital age.

Additional technical training or support

You will receive advanced training in experimental and survey design, quantitative data analysis (e.g., multilevel and causal modelling), and qualitative methods including digital ethnography, content and network analysis at the University of Southampton. Additional support can include specialist workshops on computational social science, ethics of online research, and mixed-methods integration. Collaboration C-BEAR, GAIN, and CDF will provide access to data analytics labs, interdisciplinary mentoring, and transferable skills development, which will be enhanced further by the University’s Doctoral College training framework.

Supervisors

As well as Professor Tereza Capelos (lead supervisor) and Dr Ashton Kingdon from the University of Southampton, you will also receive supervision from from the University of Helsinki.

References

- Salmela, M. & Capelos, T. (2025). Collective Victimhood: The Shallow Bond of Ressentiment. Chapter in edited volume For, Against, Together: Antagonistic Political Emotions, editors Lucy Osler and Thomas Szanto, Cambridge University Press. Accepted May 2025

- Capelos, T., DaVisio, K., & Salmela, M. (2024). “Today I Die like Jesus Christ”: An Analysis of
Ressentiment in Perceptions, Motivations and Justifications of Violent Extremist Manifestos.
Terrorism and Political Violence, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2024.2379043

- Mattheis, A & Kingdon, A. (2023). Moderating Manipulation: Demystifying Extremist Tactics for Gaming the (Regulatory) System. Policy and Internet, 15(4), 478-497.