The motivational imbalance theory Arie Kruglanski

Question 1

What does the motivational imbalance theory by Arie Kruglanski say in general terms?

Answer 1

• It describes the three pillars of radicalization, which according to him is NEEDS, NARRATIVES and NETWORK.
• According to him, radicalization is just one kind of extremism. Therefor we need to understand extremism in order to understand redicalization.

Question 2

What are the two basic human needs according to Arie Kruglanski?

Answer 2

• Biological: Food, sleep, rest.

- Psycogelic: The need to be someone. All people need to matter, to feel they are respected and important.

Question 3

What is an extremist according to the motivational imbalance theory?

Answer 3

• A person who puts ALL their resources into satisfying just one need. Weather this is a sports, a carreer or a terror goal.
• Then we are UNBALANCED.

Question 4

When are we balanced according to the motivational imbalance theory?

Answer 4

• When we have a good balance in striving for all of our needs. For instance if we both have a career, but also manage to put effort into family life and out health and other needs.

Question 5

What dictates what you must do in order to gain respect, and why is respect important?

Answer 5

• Respect is important, because it is important for us to feel that we mater.
• What we have to do in order to gain this respect depends on our ideology. It might be a terror-leader, a priest if you are Christian or a imman if you are muslim.
• Our ideology is also our narrative.

Question 6

What is a motivational imbalance according to the motivational imbalance theory?

Answer 6

• That is, when we only focus one one need to be fulfilled.

Question 7

Does the motivational imbalance theory put importance in ideology?

Answer 7

• Yes. The same amout as the DRIA model.

Question 8

What is an ideological narrative according to the motivational imbalance theory?

Answer 8

• A narrative, as for instance a terror ideology, can activate the quest for significance, for instance through propaganda. The quest for significance can be activated in three ways (later question).

Question 9

Who can activate the quest for significance?

Answer 9

• Terror organizations!

Question 10

In what three ways, can the quest for significance be activated according to the motivational imbalance theory?

Answer 10

• 1. Loss of significance or experience of humiliation (you might for instance be victimized, or experience racism)
• 2. You are respected, but you fear to loose this respect (for instance by government)
• 3. You see the possibility to gain more respect.

Question 11

What is a network according to the motivational imbalance theory, and why is it important?

Answer 11

• A network is for instance a terror organization. It serves two puposes:
• 1) Helps you get to know the violent ideology, which guides their search for gaining significance.
• 2) Besides this, it serves as a “rewardin function”, it gives respect and appreciation to the person (thereby helping to fulfill the psycogelic needs).

Question 12

In sum, what does the motivational imbalance theoy say about vwhy people become violent extremists?

Answer 12

• People have a need to get respect, which is what they search when the quest for personal significance is activated  the narrative/ideology explains that significance can be gained by committing a terror attack  the network validates this, and gives respect and significance to those, who embrases the violent ideology.
• Therefor: The psycogelic need to matter leads people to join terror-organisations, to feel significant.