Understanding the psychological appeal of populism

•Populist movements tap into key psychological needs for belonging and status.•Intergroup dynamics are at the core of how voters categorise the political world.•Relative deprivation is a key driver of populist support among voters.•Heightened expressions of both negative and positive affect are found in populist rhetoric as compared to mainstream political communication.•Examining how psychological needs become rhetorically mobilised ensures a more contextually sensitive approach to populist research.