Joanna Lindström

Short presentation

In my research I examine the complex psychological underpinnings of violent extremism and political activism. I hold a PhD in Psychology (from Stockholm University) where I integrated personality and social psychological perspectives to explain susceptibility to violent extremism and group-based violence. Since I obtained my PhD in 2023, I have received grants from the Swedish Research Council and EU Horizon.

Keywords

• extremism
• activism
• political psychology
• social psychology
• intergroup relations

Biography

I hold a BScience in Psychology (with Honours) and BScience in Arts (Development studies) from the Australian National University, and a Msc in Psychology from Stockholm University. I obtained my PhD in Psychology from Stockholm University in 2023. Shortly after I received my PhD I received a postdoctoral grant from the Swedish research council to conduct research at Uppsala University and the Center for Research in Extremism, University of Oslo. Whilst conducting my postdoc I also received a grant from the EU horizon (as a co-applicant), and I now work as a researcher within this project.

Research

I conduct research on the psychological underpinnings behind violent extremism and activism, with a current focus on reactionary social movements (e.g., far-right mobilisation, right-wing extremism, and different movements within the "manosphere"). I also conduct research on intergroup relations more generally and recently developed a scale measuring group-based relative deprivation which can be applied in different intergroup contexts.

My research is inter-disciplinary in nature and I currently collaborate with researchers, analysts and practitioners across Sweden and Europe.

Publications (selected)

Lindström, J., Bergh, R., & Akrami, N. (2025). Psychometric properties and validity of the group-based relative deprivation scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000917

Lindström, J., & Obaidi, M. (2024). Threat perceptions, group-based relative deprivation, and “replacement”: Social psychological underpinnings of right-wing extremism. In Violent Extremism: A Nordic perspective. Lexington. Editors: Amir Rostami & Christofer Edling. Lexington Books.

Lindström, J., Bergh, R, Akrami, N., Obaidi, M., & Lindholm, T. (2024). Who endorses group-based violence? Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. 0(0), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302231154412

Lindström, J., Bergh, R., & Akrami, N. (2023). Low modesty linked to feeling deprived amongst structurally advantaged (but not disadvantaged) groups. Journal of Research in Personality. 103, 104356. 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104356

Lindström, J. (2021). Personality and Team Identification Predict Violent Intentions Amongst Soccer Supporters. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 3(741277), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffspor.2021.741277

Lindström, J., & Lindholm, T. (2020). Suicide Terrorism. In T. K. Shackleford & V. A. Shackleford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science, Cham, Switzerland: Springer International.

Obaidi, M., Anjum, G., Lindström, J., Bergh, R., Celebi, E., & Baykal, M. (2020). The role of Muslim identity in predicting violent intentions to defend muslims. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 23. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220920929

Forthcoming:

Lindström, J., Manokara, K., Norman, J., Leal, A., Russell, S., & Cohen-Chen, S. (2026). American gratitude-plus-pride differentially predict benevolent and activism support across political ideology. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology

Media

EMMELO website

https://www.emmelo.eu/

Center for Research on Extremism

https://www.sv.uio.no/c-rex/english/

News article published in Dagens Nyheter about my research

https://www.dn.se/insidan/ny-studie-undersoker-gemensamma-drag-hos-valdsutovare/

Interview with TT newsagency about the rise in Nihilistic violent extremism in South-east Asia

https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/xrR0lp/hopplock-av-ideologier-nar-unga-radikaliseras

Popular science article I wrote for The Conversation

https://theconversation.com/how-we-uncovered-the-shared-personality-profile-of-violent-extremists-212758