Incel Pathways, Mental Health, and Vulnerabilities

Conference in english

Conference by Brandon Sparks, PhD
Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Room DKN-1159, Université Laval, and via Zoom

Registration required for in-person attendance

Registration required for Zoom

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Abstract : 

Involuntary celibacy (inceldom) has attracted considerable public and scholarly attention due to its association with misogynistic online discourse and a small number of high-profile acts of violence. This emphasis on extreme manifestations risks obscuring the broader psychological and relational experiences of incels, including how individuals adopt the incel label, and what challenges they face. Drawing on Dr. Sparks' program of both survey and interview research with incels, this presentation examines the pathways into inceldom and the psychosocial vulnerabilities associated with prolonged experiences of romantic and sexual exclusion.

Biography :

Brandon Sparks, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Brunswick