Psychological Perspectives on Radicalization

This innovative book examines radicalization from new psychological perspectives by examining the different typologies of radicalizing individuals, what makes individuals resilient against radicalization, and events that can trigger individuals to radicalize or to deradicalize.

What is radicalization? Which psychological processes or events in a person's life play a role in radicalization? What determines whether a personal is resilient against radicalization, and is deradicalization something that we can achieve? This book goes beyond previous publications on this topic by identifying concrete key events in the process of radicalization, providing a useful theoretical framework that summarizes the current state-of-the-art research on radicalization and deradicalization. A model is presented in which a distinction is made between different levels of radicalization and deradicalization, with key underlying psychological needs discussed: the need for identity, justice, significance, and sensation. The authors also describe what makes people resilient against messages from "the outside world" when they belong to an extremist group and discuss observable events which may "trigger" a person to radicalize (further) or to deradicalize.

Including real-world examples and clear guidelines for interventions aimed at prevention of radicalization and stimulation of deradicalization, this is essential reading for policy makers, researchers, practitioners, and students interested in this crucial societal issue.

Dr. Allard R. Feddes received his PhD at the Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany, in 2007, on development of prejudice in childhood. He now is assistant professor in the Social Psychology Department at the University of Amsterdam. He is interested in how group membership influences our feelings, thoughts, and behavior and has studied the psychology of (de)radicalization since 2011.

Lars Nickolson graduated cum laude as a Master in Philosophy in 2008. For more than a decade, he has been involved with counter-radicalization policy both as a researcher and an advisor, working within and outside of the Dutch government. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam.

Dr. Liesbeth Mann obtained her PhD at the University of Amsterdam studying the emotion of humiliation in interpersonal and intergroup contexts. Currently, she works at the same university as a teacher and researcher in cultural and political psychology. She is also involved in a number of (governmental) projects focused on the process of (de)radicalization.

Dr. Bertjan Doosje was Professor of Radicalization in the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Amsterdam from 2013 until 2019 and is currently Associate Professor there. He received his PhD on stereotyping in intergroup contexts in 1995 (cum laude). Since then, he has examined intergroup relations in general, and after 9/11/2001, he has developed a special focus on radicalization and terrorism.