Publications

Examining the, ideological, sociopolitical, and contextual factors underlying the appeal of extremism

Williams, Grace R.; Bernard, Michael L.; Jeffers, Robert F.

This paper discusses and seeks to synthesize theories regarding the role of ideology and psychosocial contextual factors in shaping motivations and behaviors of individuals within violent extremist movements. To better understand how these factors give birth to and nurture extremist social movements, theory from a multitude of disciplines was incorporated into a conceptual model of the drivers associated with terrorist behaviors. This model draws upon empirically supported theoretical notions, such as the violation of socioeconomic and geopolitical expectations, the concept of perceived threat, one’s mental construction of the world and group polarization. It also draws upon the importance of one’s social identity, sense of belonging, and the perceived “glamour” associated with extremist group behaviors.