A spate of violent incidents perpetrated by “involuntary celibates” (incels) in recent years has raised questions about the risks and worldview of those who espouse incel beliefs. In 2022, a standing committee of the Canadian parliament investigated the link between incel violence and the threat of extremism.
Recent studies have adopted a public health framework and identified incels as a vulnerable population in need of mental health and social support. Certainly, mental health support is essential to support incels. However, mental health and neurodiversity should not be characterized as the cause of incel violence. Such interpretations have the potential to stigmatize neurodiversity and downplay incels’ responsibility for violent acts.
Do incels represent vulnerable individuals who pose a public health crisis, or a mass movement that poses a threat of gender-based violence and terrorism?
Who are Incels?
Incels are people who believe that lack of sexual intimacy with women is a form of unjust oppression. They form a misogynistic community, primarily made up of men, who resent being denied their “right” to have sex with women. These beliefs lead them to promote violence against women.
Canada has seen two major violent incidents in recent years that have drawn attention to the incel movement.
In 2020, a 17-year-old boy stabbed and killed a woman at a Toronto massage parlour, and in 2023 the incident was determined to be Canada’s first incel-related act of terrorism.
In the 2018 Toronto van attack, Alek Minassian killed 10 people and another suspect died more than three years later. The suspect initially told police he was inspired by incels, but his subsequent trial heard different accounts of his motives.
The Canadian Press/Aaron Vincent Elkaim
At trial, Minassian’s lawyers argued that his diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder rendered him unable to make rational decisions and recognize that his actions were morally wrong. His use of autism as an excuse to avoid criminal liability infuriated autism advocates and ultimately led to his loss in court.
Mental Health, Neurodiversity and Gender-Based Violence
Public debate and interest in incels is linked to a broader discussion about the relationship between mental health and gender-based and systemic ideological violence.
Recently, a UK study investigated the role of mental health, autism, ideology and social networks to assess how they might predict harm in incel populations.
The report compiles the largest survey of self-identified incels to date, surveying 561 people aged 18 or over living in the UK or US. The survey found that more than a third of participants met criteria for moderate depression (39%) and anxiety (43%), as well as high levels of loneliness and anger. Additionally, it found that 30% of incels surveyed met the clinical requirements for referral for an autism evaluation, but not a definite diagnosis.
Although the report cautions against drawing a causal link between autism and terrorism, focusing on the findings could lead to biased claims that incels have higher rates and are more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Some media outlets have cited the report to highlight that incels are 30 times more likely to be autistic than the general population. While the original report provides a wealth of data on the incel population, its findings could be misused to reinforce harmful narratives against autistic people. This could lead to prejudice and false claims that autistic people are more prone to violence, radicalization, or hateful ideology because of their diagnosis.
Many autistic people see autism as an integral and positive part of their identity, rather than a disease to be cured. Positioning autism as a mental disorder that leads to violence reinforces ableist narratives that autistic people are more likely to commit crimes, even though autistic people are generally more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crimes.
A balancing act
How do we balance sympathy for individuals struggling with mental health issues with holding perpetrators of violence accountable?
Mental health resources for individuals in incel communities are essential to prevent violence, as one study found that social isolation can exacerbate negative feelings and cause individuals to join incel communities in search of a sense of belonging.
The UK study correctly concludes that interventions addressing the mental health of incel communities require effective harm reduction strategies, but the contributing factors to poor mental health must be assessed beyond individual-level factors such as autism or a mental health diagnosis.
(Shutterstock)
We also need to explore systemic factors that negatively impact the mental health of people driven to join incel communities, such as the role of technology and the internet in facilitating radicalisation, and the lack of social support programmes for those in vulnerable situations.
The UK report argues that “incels need mental health support rather than counter-terrorism interventions.” While mental health support is important, it may be less effective if a public health approach is adopted alone, instead of a comprehensive public safety and counter-terrorism perspective.
Characterizing incels as lone wolves ignores the organized nature of incel communities that incite violence and denies ongoing efforts to understand how gendered forms of violence underlie radical ideologies that are classified as extremism and terrorism. Public health efforts and counterterrorism should not be seen as a trade-off, but rather must work together toward mental health approaches to identify the threat of gendered ideological extremism and disrupt radicalization.
Addressing incel violence requires a more flexible and coordinated understanding of public health and counter-terrorism approaches, and greater attention must be paid to balancing responsibility for the violence with compassion for those who need mental health support.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health or wellbeing, we encourage you to seek help and resources. You can browse our repository of mental health services around the world.
