A recent study published in The Canadian Journal of
Human Sexuality documented the exchange of social
support within incel forums.
Incel forums, online spaces for men experiencing
involuntary celibacy , are often examined through the
lens of misogyny and radicalization. However, these
forums also function as sources of social support,
where members seek advice, validation, and emotional
reassurance.
This study explores how support is exchanged within
two distinct incel communities : r/IncelExit, where users
aim to leave the incelosphere, and Incels.is, a forum
for those who remain embedded in incel ideology.
Researchers Sabrina Leite-Mendonca and Marie-Aude
Boislard analyzed 37 discussion threads, 29 from r/
IncelExit and 8 from Incels.is, collected over one month
(August-September 2022).
Threads were included if they contained requests or exchanges of social support. Using a mixed thematic analysis approach,
they categorized the content based on five types of
social support: informational, emotional, esteem,
network, and tangible.
The data were independently coded by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion. The analysis also considered the presence of antisocial support, defined as exchanges encouraging self-destructive behaviors.
The findings revealed notable differences in the types
of social support exchanged on the two forums,
reflecting their distinct cultures and user objectives.
On r/IncelExit, informational support was the most
prevalent, accounting for 74.7% of interactions.
Users frequently provided advice, shared knowledge, and
reframed situations to offer actionable solutions.
This emphasis aligns with the forum’s overarching goal of
helping members transition out of inceldom. Emotional
support, while less common (17.6%), included
expressions of empathy and encouragement.
Esteem support, such as validation and reassurance, was
observed in 5.6% of cases, while instances of network
and tangible support were rare. Antisocial support,
where users provided unhelpful or harmful responses,
was minimal, comprising only 0.4% of interactions.
In contrast, Incels.is was dominated by emotional
support, which accounted for 55.8% of the interactions.
Here, expressions of empathy and shared frustration
were common, but these exchanges often reinforced
feelings of victimization and hopelessness.
Informational support constituted 32.7% of the
interactions, though the advice given often reflected
the forum’s ideologies.
Notably, antisocial support was significantly more prevalent on Incels.is, comprising 11.5% of interactions. Examples included users encouraging self-destructive behaviors or trivializing
others’ emotional struggles.
There was no evidence of esteem, network, or tangible support on Incels.is.
Together, these findings underscore the contrasting
roles of these forums, with r/IncelExit providing a more
supportive and solution-oriented space, while Incels.is
amplifies and perpetuates negative sentiments.
This study focused only on r/IncelExit and Incels.is,
excluding other incel and femcel forums, which limits
the generalizability of the findings.
The study, “Help me please, I need practical advice: A
qualitative exploration of social support dynamics
among incels on online forums ,” was authored by
Sabrina Leite-Mendonca and Marie-Aude Boislard.
Human Sexuality documented the exchange of social
support within incel forums.
Incel forums, online spaces for men experiencing
involuntary celibacy , are often examined through the
lens of misogyny and radicalization. However, these
forums also function as sources of social support,
where members seek advice, validation, and emotional
reassurance.
This study explores how support is exchanged within
two distinct incel communities : r/IncelExit, where users
aim to leave the incelosphere, and Incels.is, a forum
for those who remain embedded in incel ideology.
Researchers Sabrina Leite-Mendonca and Marie-Aude
Boislard analyzed 37 discussion threads, 29 from r/
IncelExit and 8 from Incels.is, collected over one month
(August-September 2022).
Threads were included if they contained requests or exchanges of social support. Using a mixed thematic analysis approach,
they categorized the content based on five types of
social support: informational, emotional, esteem,
network, and tangible.
The data were independently coded by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion. The analysis also considered the presence of antisocial support, defined as exchanges encouraging self-destructive behaviors.
The findings revealed notable differences in the types
of social support exchanged on the two forums,
reflecting their distinct cultures and user objectives.
On r/IncelExit, informational support was the most
prevalent, accounting for 74.7% of interactions.
Users frequently provided advice, shared knowledge, and
reframed situations to offer actionable solutions.
This emphasis aligns with the forum’s overarching goal of
helping members transition out of inceldom. Emotional
support, while less common (17.6%), included
expressions of empathy and encouragement.
Esteem support, such as validation and reassurance, was
observed in 5.6% of cases, while instances of network
and tangible support were rare. Antisocial support,
where users provided unhelpful or harmful responses,
was minimal, comprising only 0.4% of interactions.
In contrast, Incels.is was dominated by emotional
support, which accounted for 55.8% of the interactions.
Here, expressions of empathy and shared frustration
were common, but these exchanges often reinforced
feelings of victimization and hopelessness.
Informational support constituted 32.7% of the
interactions, though the advice given often reflected
the forum’s ideologies.
Notably, antisocial support was significantly more prevalent on Incels.is, comprising 11.5% of interactions. Examples included users encouraging self-destructive behaviors or trivializing
others’ emotional struggles.
There was no evidence of esteem, network, or tangible support on Incels.is.
Together, these findings underscore the contrasting
roles of these forums, with r/IncelExit providing a more
supportive and solution-oriented space, while Incels.is
amplifies and perpetuates negative sentiments.
This study focused only on r/IncelExit and Incels.is,
excluding other incel and femcel forums, which limits
the generalizability of the findings.
The study, “Help me please, I need practical advice: A
qualitative exploration of social support dynamics
among incels on online forums ,” was authored by
Sabrina Leite-Mendonca and Marie-Aude Boislard.
