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Patterns of Thinking in Militant Extremism.
Gerard Saucier1, Laura Geuy Akers2, Seraphine Shen-Miller2
1University of Oregno, Singapore gsaucier@uoregon.edu.
Summary
Violent extremist thinking is characterized by perceived crises and justifications for violence. These patterns are not unique to extremists and may be more common in the general population.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
Background:
- Understanding the cognitive patterns of violent extremist groups is crucial for developing effective counter-strategies.
- Previous research has often characterized extremist thinking as aberrant or bizarre.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze common thinking patterns (mind-sets) across diverse violent extremist groups.
- To compare these patterns with general population sentiments to assess their uniqueness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of statements from and about extremist groups across various continents, cultures, and political/religious orientations.
- Formulation of 16 common themes characterizing the militant-extremist mind-set.
Main Results:
- Identified 16 recurrent themes, including perceptions of sacred value violations and justifications for violence.
- Found that general population research participants did not strongly disassociate from extremist sentiments, suggesting these patterns are not entirely unique.
Conclusions:
- Militant-extremist thinking represents an aggressive form of fanaticism influenced by dispositional and situational factors.
- Common themes may coalesce into compelling narratives that enhance the ideological appeal of extremist groups.
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