Posting like a Truecel: Exploring the Role of Online Group Dynamics and Sexual Expression in Incels.is

Abstract The online Incel community has become a growing concern in technology-facilitated sexual violence. This thesis investigates the role of virtual group dynamics in the expression of sexually violent language (SVL) and positive sexual language (PSL) within the incel community. This study conducted a qualitative Constructivist Grounded Theory (GCT) approach of 24 randomly selected threads from the popular Ince.is forum. The analysis revealed two main interrelated themes: (1) Shared understanding of grievance-black pilled archetypes, and (2) the Contradictory sexual expression pathways. The findings indicate that forum interactions function as a filtering and reinforcement system that is founded on Black-pill archetypes and Grievance framing. Three sexual expression pathways emerged: Affective need, Pragmatic neutral, and Instrumentalization of women. Positive sexual expressions were unstable from contamination framing, while sexually violent discourse was normalized, amplified and reframed as masculine. Within (SVL) a hardened enforcer user typology emerged. These findings suggest that the risk posed by incel forums lies within the groups validation structures that normalize harmful scripts and marginalize emotional vulnerability. The findings contribute to sexual violent fantasy research by illuminating how fantasy becomes a site of communal identity regulation. The thesis concludes by highlighting further avenues of research.