neurosciencenews.com
Summary: A new study reveals that many self-identified incels reject employment not only due to mental health challenges, but as a deliberate expression of identity reinforced by online communities. By analyzing over 1,200 forum posts, researchers found that incel spaces often celebrate unemployment and isolation as signs of ideological purity, pressuring others to remain disengaged from work or education.
Those who pursue jobs or self-improvement are labeled "fakecels," creating a social barrier to reintegration. Researchers argue that addressing this issue requires more than job programs-it demands interventions targeting identity, mental health, and online influence.
By analyzing exchanges on online incel forums, McGill University researchers have gained insights into the negative attitudes toward labour force participation held by many young men who identify as incels.