Psychological Theories of Radicalization

Psychological theories of radicalization explore how individuals develop extreme beliefs that lead to violence. These theories suggest that personal factors like identity struggles, feelings of injustice, or a desire for belonging can push someone toward radical ideas. They also consider the influence of social environment, such as exposure to extremist groups, and cognitive processes like groupthink or motivated reasoning. Essentially, radicalization is seen as a complex interplay of individual psychology and social influences, where people seek meaning, purpose, or validation, sometimes resulting in adopting radical views that justify harmful actions.