Pathways to Antisemitism among American Undergraduate College Students: The Meeting of the Red-Green Alliance and Malignant Self-Criticism.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article examines the sharp rise in antisemitic beliefs and radicalization among American college students through an integrative lens of developmental and clinical psychology. The study proposes a model explaining how psychological vulnerability, specifically "malignant self-criticism," serves as a primary mental catalyst for adopting extremist ideologies. Characterized by rigid standards and punitive self-judgment, malignant self-criticism is particularly prevalent among adolescents and young adults, a developmental stage defined by identity formation and heightened social sensitivity. According to the model, youths caught in a "self-critical cascade" channel feelings of guilt and emotional distress into political activism. They adopt frameworks based on a simplistic "oppressor-oppressed" dichotomy to seek certainty and achieve an illusion of moral redemption. The article analyzes how geopolitical and social forces exploit this deep psychological mechanism. It reviews the influence of the "Red-Green Alliance", an ideological partnership between radical leftist movements and Islamist factions, and the amplification of its messaging through biased social media algorithms, particularly on TikTok. Furthermore, the paper highlights the role of external actors, such as strategic and undisclosed Qatari funding, in fueling campus activism and polarization. To address this complexity, a four-stage radicalization model is proposed: beginning with a "maturation" stage and social media exposure prior to college, moving through conformist fusion with activist groups, blurring ethical boundaries, and ultimately culminating in open law violations and harm to Jewish students. The article emphasizes the need for psychologists, educators, and policymakers to address the psychological vulnerabilities of youth to halt the erosion of democratic values and tolerance on campuses.
Authors: Barda, Kobby, Shahar, Golan
Institution: Holon Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225406190