LIT 12 - McDoom Radicalization Flashcards
What is radicalisation?
Radicalisation is the process through which individuals develop extremely negative beliefs and attitudes toward a perceived outgroup. In genocides and mass killings, this means believing the outgroup deserves to be targeted and that doing nothing to help them is legitimate.
When does radicalisation occur in relation to violence?
Radicalisation can occur both before and after acts of violence. This means that individuals may already hold negative beliefs toward a group before violence begins, or these beliefs may develop as a result of their participation in the violence.
How might radicalisation manifest itself in individuals?
Radicalisation may manifest itself in the following ways:
* Internalisation of exclusionary ideologies: adopting beliefs that exclude outgroup members, such as believing they don’t belong to the nation.
* Essentialisation and dehumanisation of outgroup members: viewing outgroup members as all the same and less than human, making it easier to justify violence against them.
* Fear of outgroup members as a threat: perceiving the outgroup as a material or symbolic threat, justifying action to eliminate them.
What is the ‘continuum of destruction’?
The ‘continuum of destruction’ is a concept that describes how each act of violence transforms the participant further, leading to a gradual escalation of violence. As individuals engage in harmful acts, they justify their behaviour by devaluing the victim group and believing that moral values no longer apply to them.
What is the role of dissonance-reduction in radicalisation?
Dissonance-reduction is a psychological mechanism that explains how individuals reconcile their violent behaviour with their moral beliefs. To reduce the discomfort caused by this inconsistency, individuals may change their views on the legitimacy of violence, coming to believe their actions are justified.
What is perpetrator heterogeneity?
Perpetrator heterogeneity refers to the fact that not all individuals involved in violence have the same attitudes and motivations. Some may be radicalised before the violence, while others become radicalised as a result of their participation. Individuals also differ in their vulnerability to psychological and situational pressures that may lead them to commit violence.
How does the passage of time affect radicalisation?
If the conditions that permit violence persist for a long time, individuals may become more radicalised as they commit more acts of violence. Time may intensify the negative attitudes and beliefs they develop as a result of killing.
How does the scale of participation in violence affect radicalisation?
In cases of limited participation, radicalisation is more likely to occur beforehand, as only those with strong pre-existing beliefs will be willing to participate when the risks are high. In cases of mass participation, radicalisation is more likely to occur afterwards, as individuals may be drawn in by social pressures and then justify their actions through changing their attitudes.
What are the challenges of studying radicalisation after violence has ended?
It can be difficult to determine if an individual was radicalised before or after participating in violence. Interviews conducted after the fact may not accurately reflect the individual’s beliefs at the time of the violence, as they may downplay or deny their negative attitudes in a context where the violence is condemned.
