Understanding extreme violent behavior in ultra firms: exploring identity fusion from a dialogical perspective

• Published in: Journal of constructivist psychology 2020, Vol.33 (3), p.263-278
• Main Authors: Silva, Joana Maria Ribeiro, Da Silva, R., Fernandez-Navarro, P., Rosa, C., Gonçalves, Miguel M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Social Sciences
• ISSN: 1521-0650
• DOI: 10.1080/10720537.2019.1676342

This paper explores a dialogical operationalization of identity fusion in the context of football firms. An in-depth life story interview with a longstanding member of a football firm involved in several violent episodes was qualitatively analyzed. The variety of positions of the self (I-positions) as well as the dialogical relations established by such positions were examined under themes associated with identity fusion, in an attempt to understand pro-group radical violent behavior. Results suggest that a core coalition of internal I-positions and external We-positions favoring extreme ultra violence appeared to dominate the participant's self-system. This coalition seemed to have soft boundaries among the positions compounding it and, at the same time, rigid boundaries with other positions of the self-system, operating as an I-prison, preventing alternative counter-violence voices to be heard and promoter or meta-positions to emerge. Considering that functionally equivalent forms of identity fusion have been identified in radical football violence and terrorism, this knowledge can contribute to tackle the pathways for engaging in extreme violence in favor of a group/organization. Moreover, it can be used to develop more effective programs to promote individuals' de-fusion from different groups, whenever group adherence proves dysfunctional and risky for themselves and/or others. We would like to thank to the participant of this study for sharing his life story and personal experiences. The fourth author is funded by Portuguese national funds (OE), through FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the framework contract foreseen in the numbers 4, 5 and 6 of the article 23, of the Decree-Law 57/2016, of August 29, changed by Law 57/2017, of July 19.