Aims: It was found that radicalisation spreads through a social contagion process, where endemic factors, such as socio-economic factors may influence an individual’s risk of radicalisation....Show moreAims: It was found that radicalisation spreads through a social contagion process, where endemic factors, such as socio-economic factors may influence an individual’s risk of radicalisation. However, it was also found how radicalisation is influenced by the available structure of political opportunities within a country. Making the relationship to likely be non-linear. This study therefore investigates the interaction between certain factors that can trigger individuals to violently radicalise and the influence of racial supremacy. Methods: Data was gathered from PIRUS an open-source dataset on radicalised individuals from the US. The selected sample (N= 975) consisted of two ideological subcategories, both with a sense of feeling of racial supremacy. White supremacists and black separatists were selected to be able to analyse the interaction between group grievances and violent radicalisation type. Results: The association between group grievances and violence was significant for the aggregate sample (OR= 1.69, p= <.001) representing a small effect size. It was most salient for black separatists (OR=7.21) representing a large effect size and less salient for white supremacists (OR=1.58). To further answer the research question, group grievance and an interaction term between the radicalisation type and group grievance were included in a binary logistic regression model. Results showed that the overall model is significant (x2 (2,671) = 21,83, p.- <.001). It was found that the model correctly identifies 66.8% of the cases. Furthermore, the produced interaction term was found to be a significant contributor (OR= 1.76, CI 1.88-18.06). Conclusions: It was found that radicalised individuals that are involved in terrorist violence are characterized by higher rates of group grievances than their non-involved radical counterparts. Based on this finding, it can be concluded that radicalisation type interacts with group grievances. The relationship is not changed by the interaction, it rather explains it. Therefore, the presence of group grievances can be seen as a mediator. Lastly, differences were found regarding ideological subcategory that was characterized by racial supremacy. Black separatists were found to have more salient results regarding group grievances and socio-economic factors. This could be explained by the available political and societal structures present in the United States. These findings have possible implications for real-world and scientific practices.Show less
Aims: The violence breeds violence hypothesis posits that adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of violence in later life. This cross-case comparison study investigates the interplay of...Show moreAims: The violence breeds violence hypothesis posits that adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of violence in later life. This cross-case comparison study investigates the interplay of adverse childhood experiences and violent radicalisation. Methods: The open-source dataset containing data gathered on a purposive sample of radicalised individuals (N = 3203) from North America was used to determine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and violent radicalisation. Results: Having some sort of adverse childhood experiences, either alcohol and drug abuse (OR 1.46, p = <.001), mental illness (OR 1.92, p = < 0.001), or trauma (OR 1.37, p = 0.01) was associated with violent radicalisation. Child abuse (p = 0.13) and social stratum (p = 0.28) were not associated with violent radicalisation. Conclusion: Violent radicalised individuals are characterised by higher rates of some form of adverse childhood experiences compared to non-violent radicalised individuals. Notwithstanding the limitations associated with missing data, it is plausible that the positive outcomes have implications for practice and theoretical underpinnings of the cycle of violence in the field of radicalisation.Show less
This thesis is about lone actor terrorists and their justification of the attacks they have committed. Specifically looking at Breivik and Tarrant, both men committed terrorist attacks that cost...Show moreThis thesis is about lone actor terrorists and their justification of the attacks they have committed. Specifically looking at Breivik and Tarrant, both men committed terrorist attacks that cost the lives of many people. By using thematic analysis, both of their manifestos were analyzed. The aim of the research was to look for social identification within their manifestos, to see if there is a sense of belonging that could motivate or move these types of terrorists towards (collective) action.Show less
This paper analyzes the prevalence and role of social cognitive aspects in lone wolf terrorists’ manifestos. To answer the research question, three manifestos from prominent lone wolf terrorists...Show moreThis paper analyzes the prevalence and role of social cognitive aspects in lone wolf terrorists’ manifestos. To answer the research question, three manifestos from prominent lone wolf terrorists who have committed terrorist attacks were analyzed using qualitative methods, the results of which were compared and contrasted to determine the existence and role of shared social cognitive denominators in justifying violence against innocent people. The results showed that all three manifestos had a high degree of “strong reciprocity” and “group identification” when it came to victim identification, transgressor identification and justifications of violence against the transgressors. The prevalence of “strong reciprocity” and “group identification” ultimately offers an explanation of the phenomenon of “self-sacrifice”. These findings emphasize the need for further examination of social cognitive factors in the radicalization of individuals and their role in justifying extremism.Show less
Since 2015, Germany has witnessed three major right-wing terrorist attacks conducted by individual attackers outside any extremist group. However, as current research primarily focuses on extremist...Show moreSince 2015, Germany has witnessed three major right-wing terrorist attacks conducted by individual attackers outside any extremist group. However, as current research primarily focuses on extremist group dynamics and identities, academia lacks research into individual-level justifications for terrorist violence and into German right-wing extremism. Thus, applying the psychological theory of moral disengagement results in a better understanding of individual terrorist attackers. Furthermore, applying subcultural theory can help understand the cultural context of such justifications and the prevalence to which the perpetrator is referring to values outside a socially accepted framework. A content analysis integrates the two theoretical frameworks into the data gathered from the notes of the trial against the Halle attacker, while the thematic analysis identifies reoccurring themes to link them to subcultural theory. The findings illustrate how the Halle attacker made use of moral disengagement mechanisms to construct self-defence narratives, and how his argumentation relied primarily on subcultural themes, attempting to frame them as encultured to promote his views. Thus, this research contributes to a wider academic debate on individual-level terrorist justifications and facilitates a better understanding of radicalisation processes.Show less
The use of manifestos have become a popular tool for white supremacist terrorist to spread their ideology and tactics with the world. This study contributes to the understanding of the...Show moreThe use of manifestos have become a popular tool for white supremacist terrorist to spread their ideology and tactics with the world. This study contributes to the understanding of the justification process of the white supremacist terrorist. The study aims to identify the eight mechanisms of moral disengagement theory,as described by Bandura, in the manifesto of Brenton Tarrant. These eight mechanism included: moral justification, euphemistic language, advantageous comparison, displacement of responsibility, dif usion of responsibility, distorting the consequences, dehumanization and attribution of blame. A qualitative content analysis was conducted, which noted the occurrence and frequency of the eight mechanisms of moral disengagement. The study confirmed that seven out of eight mechanisms appeared throughout the manifesto of Brenton Tarrant, with moral justification and dehumanization being the most common mechanisms, and displacement of responsibility and distortion of consequences the least present.Show less
Domestic terrorism is a topic which has been greatly under researched over the past two decades. While studies have been extensive on the motivations and justifications of jihadist terrorists, the...Show moreDomestic terrorism is a topic which has been greatly under researched over the past two decades. While studies have been extensive on the motivations and justifications of jihadist terrorists, the inner psyche of the domestic terrorist has been ignored. A growing phenomenon that is occurring amongst perpetrators of domestic terrorism is to create a manifesto, which usually outlines the reasoning and motivations behind their terrorist actions. While the use of manifestos for case study research is rare, it is an extremely useful insight into understanding the justifications and motivations of a terrorist perpetrator. The following research paper examines the justification strategies that Theodore Kaczynski’s employs within his manifesto Industrial Society and Its Future to legitimize his acts of terrorism. The research paper concludes that Theodore Kaczynski applies both the justificatory strategies of necessity and virtue to a great extent to legitimize his use of violence.Show less
This study examines the saliency of relative deprivation theory in violence justification in the specific case of Scott Beierle. Beierle, identified as a supporter of the Involuntary Celibate ...Show moreThis study examines the saliency of relative deprivation theory in violence justification in the specific case of Scott Beierle. Beierle, identified as a supporter of the Involuntary Celibate (Incel) community, opened fire at a yoga studio on November 2, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida. Incel extremism, since its uprise in 2014, has been labelled as a concerning threat. However, reading of the literature indicates that Incel terrorism is under-researched. This qualitative case study aims to investigate: • Beierle's manifesto by means of a thematic analysis. • The emergence of relative deprivation in Beierle’s justification of violence, and its saliency in Beierle’s process from grievance to action. The study demonstrates that Beierle consistently makes social comparisons between himself and others, suggesting negative outcomes in which he is ultimately deprived. This feeling of deprivation is accompanied by strong emotions of injustice, anger, resentment, and even revenge. Relative deprivation therefore plays a prominent role in Beierle's violence justification and in the process from grievance to action. Keywords: Terrorism, Scott Beierle, Manifesto, Incel, Relative DeprivationShow less
In the early days of terrorism research, it was concluded that perpetrators of terrorist violence were either ‘evil’ or ill. In the past several decades, however, terrorism scholars have...Show moreIn the early days of terrorism research, it was concluded that perpetrators of terrorist violence were either ‘evil’ or ill. In the past several decades, however, terrorism scholars have increasingly sought to understand terrorism from the perspective of the perpetrator. The current paper aims to explore this, by analysing the manifesto of Brenton Tarrant through the lens of Significance Quest Theory in order to determine whether an ‘ideological narrative’ emerged in the perpetrator’s manifesto and how salient it was in the legitimization of terrorist violence. Through the use of thematic analysis, the paper identified five themes related to the ideological narrative present in Tarrant’s manifesto: White decline, Environment, Xenophobia, Identity, and Us. Vs. Them. The paper found that whilst the ideological narrative was salient, it was accompanied by another driver, network. The findings have both scientific and real-world importance as it shines a significant light on the influential role the narrative can play in justifying terrorism. Acknowledging this can lead to advantageous policy implications regarding the prevention, and counter-radicalization of individuals involved in highly accessible networks that spread violence-justifying narratives.Show less
Apocalyptic terrorism is dangerous in nature due to its motivation to destroy the world, without interest in negotiation and political goals. Research on the topic has been primarily concerned with...Show moreApocalyptic terrorism is dangerous in nature due to its motivation to destroy the world, without interest in negotiation and political goals. Research on the topic has been primarily concerned with understanding group dynamics and the perpetration of violence, thus neglecting the underlying sources of becoming an apocalyptic terrorist. To fill this gap within apocalyptic terrorism research, this paper explores how members of the apocalyptic terrorist organization Aum Shinrikyo, justified their organization’s use of terrorism, using a social identity perspective. Interviews with Aum Shinrikyo members were analysed. The results showed that the participants, after categorizing themselves with Aum Shinrikyo because of their dissatisfactions with the materialistic Japanese society, adopted and acted on the prototype of the organization in which compliance and following the doctrine were most important. They discarded themselves, following orders blindly and adopting the belief that an enlightened individual had the right to kill others, leading eventually to the perpetration and justification of terrorism by Aum Shinrikyo. The results demonstrate the importance of social identities within apocalyptic terrorist organizations, and highlight the need to further study apocalyptic terrorism from a perspective aimed at the individual level.Show less
Terrorism continues to form problem with many harmful effects. However, a sizeable gap in violent extremist literature exists in our understanding of moral disengagement theory (MDT) in perpetrator...Show moreTerrorism continues to form problem with many harmful effects. However, a sizeable gap in violent extremist literature exists in our understanding of moral disengagement theory (MDT) in perpetrator’s justification of terrorist violence. This study aims to discover what mechanisms of moral disengagement are used most saliently in perpetrator justification of terrorist violence as MDT has hardly been applied to primary sources of terrorist perpetrators. Therefore, this study analyses Anders Breivik’s manifesto “2083”. A content analysis was conducted over a selected part of the data. The study identified that 4 of the 8 mechanisms of moral disengagement emerged most saliently in Anders Breivik’s terrorist manifesto, namely: moral justification, advantageous comparison, dehumanization, and attribution of blame. These 4 techniques comprised 70.83% of total instances. Further analysis identified that moral justification and advantageous comparison often overlapped, as well as moral justification and dehumanization.Show less
As terrorist attacks have intensified in the last decade, researchers have increasingly sought to understand terrorism from the perspective of past perpetrators. This thesis discusses the Boston...Show moreAs terrorist attacks have intensified in the last decade, researchers have increasingly sought to understand terrorism from the perspective of past perpetrators. This thesis discusses the Boston Marathon attack committed by the brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Placing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as the object of study, the current research aims to apply Functionalism Theory to explore events in his life prior to the attack, and consider whether how these may have affected his decision to commit a terrorist attack. Thematic analysis was conducted on a range of open sources, focusing specifically on court documents from Tsarnaev’s 2014/2015 and 2021/2022 trials. Several themes emerged, which indicated that in the case of Dzhokhar, his life prior to the attack firmly affected his decision-making. Specifically, the strong influence of Tamerlan over him, Dzhokhar’s double life and the anger towards the West.Show less
The current research considers the notion that right-wing extremism is a potential continuation of Rapaport’s (2004) fourth ‘religious’ wave of terrorism. By exploring the role of religious...Show moreThe current research considers the notion that right-wing extremism is a potential continuation of Rapaport’s (2004) fourth ‘religious’ wave of terrorism. By exploring the role of religious anthropoemic populism and the intuitive motivations of the moral foundations theory, a thematic analysis is conducted on the manifesto of the 2019 Christchurch shooter. The results illustrate that religion may play a minor role in Tarrant’s justifications for violence, but that authority and purity are his primary drivers. This study, therefore, contributes to the argument that the far-right extremist trend signifies the emergence of a new distinct fifth wave of terrorism.Show less
