Explain what psychological and behavioral factors play a role in those ‘homegrown’ individuals becoming radicalized and conducting terrorist attacks within their own nation. Also, address at least one radicalization model mentioned that you feel accurately describes the process by which individuals become extremists.
- Borum’s Pathway
- Wiktorowicz’s Theory of Joining Extremist Groups
- Moghaddam’s Staircase to Terrorism
- NYPD Radicalization Process
- Sageman’s Four Prongs Model
Answer preview
I think the Wiktorowicz’s Theory of Joining Extremist Groups provide a clear explanation of how one might become radicalized. It is because it shows how someone undergoes psychological and behavioral changes before joining extremist groups. According to Hwang (2018), the theory is based on four main stages that interact to make someone decide to join extremist groups. The first stage is cognitive opening, which happens when someone faces an identity crisis or discrimination. It makes someone lose interest in prior beliefs and eager to adopt new beliefs. The stage factor is religious seeking, where someone explores multiple world-views and encounters new radical groups. After that, frame alignment is the third stage, where someone is convinced to join the encountered radical groups. In the socialization, which is the last stage, someone adopts the beliefs of extremist groups and joins the movement.
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