Extremism in society is the source of enormous human suffering and
represents a significant social problem. This issue of the Journal of
Social Issues assembles a set of 11 empirical and theoretical articles
from leading social psychologists to examine the psychological
relationship between uncertainty and extremism. The key question that is
examined is whether, to what extent and in what fashion do feelings of
uncertainty lead people to behave individually or collectively in ways
that can be considered extremist - does uncertainty play a causal role
in zealotry, fundamentalism, attitudinal rigidity, ideological
orthodoxy, intolerance of dissent, violent social disruption,
authoritarian leadership, and so forth.