Cycles of Construing in Radicalization and Deradicalization: A Study of Salafist Muslims

Winter, David; Muhanna-Matar, Aitemad

doi:10.1080/10720537.2018.1536904

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The constructivist model (Winter and Feixas, 2019) was supported and highlighted the progression of some activists along the pathway of radicalization. In line with previous research (Winter and Muhanna-Matar, 2020), Brexit activism provided individuals with a more positive and certain sense of self.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The constructivist model of radicalization (Winter and Feixas, 2019) is supported by the study and Brexit activists' construing was consistent with that observed in studies of radicalization in Salafist Muslims (Winter and Muhanna-Matar, 2020) and analyses of the narrative of Anders Breivik (Winter and Tschudi, 2015), which supported the development of the model.…”

Section: Constructivist Model Of Radicalizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

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The Radicalization of Brexit Activists

et al. 2022

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Brexit activists demonstrating outside the British Houses of Parliament were studied in situ to examine their potential for pro-group extreme behavior. This involved activists of two polarized, opposing views; those of Leave and Remain. The research engaged concepts linking the different theoretical perspectives of identity fusion and personal construct psychology. The study measured participants' degree of fusion to their group using a verbal measure. Willingness to undertake extreme acts was assessed in several ways: a measure of willingness to fight for the group, adaptations of the trolley dilemma and questions regarding political violence. Individual construing was examined using repertory grid technique and a semi-structured interview. Results were similar for both Leave and Remain participants. The majority of activists identified as “fused” to their group and, if so, were more likely to undertake hypothetical extreme behavior compared to those who did not identify as “fused.” Repertory grid technique indicated that becoming an activist provided individuals with a clearer and more positive view of themselves. Opposition activists were construed more negatively and extremely than fellow activists, and this construal was associated with an increased willingness to undertake extreme pro-group behavior. This was consistent with the personal construct model of radicalization and was heightened in those who were “fused.” Interview data provided support for the constructivist model and revealed characteristics and concerns of the two groups. Overall, the findings indicate that campaigning organizations contain fused individuals, who are more likely to undertake hypothetical pro-group violence including self-sacrifice. This has broader implications which may be particularly pertinent, given the violent impact of extremist activists around the globe.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Constructivist Model Of Radicalizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

The Radicalization of Brexit Activists

et al. 2022

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“…As described by Winter and Muhanna-Matar (2019) , the narrative interviews clearly indicated the cycles of construing and reconstruing (involving Kelly’s Experience, Creativity, and Circumspection-Preemption-Control Cycles as well as oscillation between constriction and dilation) in which the participants had engaged on their paths to radicalization and, in two cases, deradicalization. While the interviews thus elucidated construing processes, the repertory grid was able to indicate features of the structure and content of the participants’ construing consistent with the personal construct model.…”

Section: Investigations Of the Personal Construct Model Of Radicalizamentioning

confidence: 78%

“…This study investigated young people in Tunisia who had identified with Salafism, a branch of Sunni Islam that calls for a return to the practices of the first Muslims ( Muhanna-Matar and Winter, 2017 ; Winter and Muhanna-Matar, 2019 ). While some Salafists are committed to a path of Jihad, others reject the use of violence.…”

Section: Investigations Of the Personal Construct Model Of Radicalizamentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a Constructivist Model of Radicalization and Deradicalization: A Conceptual and Methodological Proposal

Winter

Feixas

2019

Front. Psychol.

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This article identifies common features of existing models of radicalization and deradicalization, such as the transition from uncertainty to certainty, before integrating these in a model based upon personal construct theory. It is proposed that the personal construct concepts of validation and invalidation are particularly relevant to processes of identity change such as radicalization and deradicalization. Thus, it is argued that radicalization occurs when major invalidation of an individual’s construing is followed by the development of a new radicalized view of the world that provides a turning point in his or her sense of identity and a more structured and certain view of the world. There is likely to be seeking out of validation for this view in interactions with others who share similar views or by extorting evidence for the individual’s radical constructions. These constructions are likely to involve extreme negative views of another group, by contrast to members of which, and possibly by taking extreme action against this group, the individual’s new self-construction may become further defined. These same processes can be seen to operate in deradicalization, and it will therefore be argued that the model has implications for the development of deradicalization programs. A further advantage of the model is that it has an associated personal construct methodology, particularly repertory grid technique, that may be used to investigate processes of radicalization and deradicalization. As illustrations of such investigations, results will be summarized from a repertory grid study of Salafist Muslims in Tunisia, some of whom had returned from fighting in Syria, and an analysis of the writings of the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik. The findings of these investigations are argued to be consistent with the personal construct model of radicalization and deradicalization.

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“…In the current approach, the emphasis is on affirming and bolstering one's own identity and using it to bring about positive change. Secondly, Salafism itself is often met with suspicion and various analysis point to Salafist ideology as a precursor to support for violent extremism (Wiktorowicz, 2006;Malthaner, 2014;Winter and Muhanna-Matar, 2020). In the present initiative, it is considered a constructive force rather than a driver of isolation, hostility, and extremism.…”

Section: Discover Your Inner Strengthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discover Your Inner Strength: A Positive Psychological Approach to Bolster Resilience and Address Radicalization

Dechesne

Ahajjaj

2021

Front. Psychol.

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The article reports initial attempts to evaluate a new positive psychological approach to bolster resilience among Muslims in the Netherlands. The approach uses Quranic texts and principles from mental contrasting and implementation intentions (MCII) to encourage Muslims in the Netherlands to reflect in groups on appropriate responses to challenges they are facing. The participants are inspired by Quranic texts and encouraged to write responses to specific challenges in the form of IF-THEN rules and to practice these IF-THEN rules for several weeks. Two studies indicate that this approach increases personal growth initiative. The implications of these findings for the MCII literature and prevention/countering violent extremism are discussed.

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Cycles of Construing in Radicalization and Deradicalization: A Study of Salafist Muslims

Cited by 12 publications

References 32 publications

The Radicalization of Brexit Activists

The Radicalization of Brexit Activists

Toward a Constructivist Model of Radicalization and Deradicalization: A Conceptual and Methodological Proposal

Discover Your Inner Strength: A Positive Psychological Approach to Bolster Resilience and Address Radicalization

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