Cope or Rope: A Primer on Incels, Mental Health, and Risk Assessment
Presented by: Dustin Wygant, PhD, Christopher P. Marett, MD, and Sarah E. Daly, PhD
3 Hours / 3 CEs
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on Cope or Rope: A Primer on Incels, Mental Health, and Risk Assessment is presented by Dustin Wygant, PhD, Christopher P. Marett, MD, and Sarah E. Daly, PhD.
“Incel” is a portmanteau for “involuntary celibate,” and groups of incels typically exist and congregate in online spaces. As described on one popular forum for the group, an incel is “a person who wants to be in a loving relationship but is unable to find one despite his best effort.” Generally, men who identify as incels have had limited or no romantic or sexual experiences. They believe this is due to a number of factors, including their physical appearance, missed developmental milestones, personality, and/or mental illnesses such as anxiety or autism. While agencies, researchers, and organizations gather information and offer perspectives about the group, few have engaged with incels directly.
The presenters discuss recent interview data to inform participants about the individuals and the group (e.g., brief history, associations with violence, common characteristics), themes in online discussions, and shared beliefs. Additionally, this program utilizes an interactive approach highlighting case studies and interview data to discuss treatment strategies, suicide and violence risk assessment, describe and debate diagnostic considerations and intervention approaches, and identify ways to address incel problems effectively.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe factors that affect individuals’ decision to join and participate in the incel community
- 2 Describe common beliefs, words and phrases, and perspectives among the incel community
- 3 Describe interview excerpts from communication with incels to inform psychological practices and interventions to best address the needs of people with incel beliefs
- 4 Describe aspects of risk assessment for violence and suicide risk
- 5 Describe diagnostic debates related to common incel issues
Training Instructors:
Dustin Wygant, PhD
Dr. Dustin Wygant is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training for the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program at Eastern Kentucky University. He is a licensed clinical psychologist (Kentucky & Ohio). Dr. Wygant received his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio prior to completing his master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical psychology at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Christopher P. Marett, MD
Dr. Christopher Marett is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame (2005), his Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree with a concentration in clinical investigation from The Ohio State University (2010), and his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from The Ohio State University (2010).
Sarah E. Daly, PhD
Sarah E. Daly, Ph.D. is an assistant professor and graduate program director in the criminology, law, and society department at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. Her primary area of research is involuntary celibacy and the online incel community. She has conducted qualitative studies on inceldom based on her ongoing in-depth interviews with incels, and her recent work has been published in the Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice & Criminology and Sex Roles.
Training Outline
Key topics covered in this training include:
-
Introduction to Incel Issues
-Overview of the online community, explanations, and data
-Resources/plan: Lecture including PowerPoint and brief video clips -
Examining the Incel Community
-Observing content from forums and evaluating case studies -
Addressing Incel Issues
-Discussions regarding clinical assessment and treatment, including factors related to suicide risk
-Review of violence risk and threat assessment measures salient to people with incel beliefs -
Identifying Implications for Practice and Research
-Review of the existing research and approaches, identifying ways to apply this in practice and expand upon research
CE Sponsorship Information
Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.
American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).
Sponsorship Approval Statements
Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.