Psychological Differences between Radicalized and non-Radicalized Muslim Prisoners: A Qualitative Analysis of their Frame Alignment

Abstract

Do radicalized Muslim prisoners differ from non-radicalized Muslim prisoners with regard to Kruglanski’s (2004) quest for significance (QFS), need for (cognitive) closure (NFC), and their frame alignment regarding ideological and religious issues? To answer this research question N = 26 male inmates from Bavarian prisons were interviewed. The radicalized prisoners or extremists (n = 13) had been identified as Salafi or Jihadi adherents by the Bavarian Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bayerischer Verfassungsschutz) and therefore had a security note. The comparison group were non-radicalized Muslim inmates (n = 13); the vast majority had a migration background. The audio files of the interviews were transcribed and Mayring’s (2010) qualitative content analysis was applied. The obtained interview material was analyzed twice (each time with a different focus) for psychological differences and characteristics between the two groups of Muslim prisoners. In the first analysis, the interviews were investigated with regard to conspiracy theories, dualistic conception of the world, political sensitivity, collective and individual victimization and religious rigidity. Extremists exhibited a stronger frame alignment with respect to general conspiracy theories, dualistic conception of the world, collective victimization, and political sensitivity. Results also substantiate the idea that extremists exhibit more rigid religious behaviors than non-extremist Muslim prisoners. Contrary to our expectations, the two groups did not differ in various biographical features, for example whether they grew up in a family that actively practiced their religion. In the second analysis, we found that although the overall pattern regarding QFS turned out as expected, the radicalized inmates did not achieve higher values than their non-radicalized counterparts. However, we obtained substantial differences for subcategories of QFS. The extremist prisoners reported more norm violations as a trigger for QFS and more opportunities for gaining significance than non-extremists. This was also true for non-legitimate as well as non-criminal opportunities to gain significance. There was a substantial difference between extremists and non-extremists regarding the overall NFC characteristics. Radicalized prisoners tend to avoid ambiguous situations or uncertainty, they prefer clear, structured processes and firm beliefs. The results suggest that it is possible to differentiate non-radicalized from radicalized Muslims as they showed less quest for significance, less need for closure, less political sensitivity and a less rigorous view on religion.

The significance quest theory and the 3N model: A systematic review.

“…Because of their specificities and richness, it seemed difficult to parsimoniously include qualitative data in the present review. Nevertheless, we have identified five reports 8 (Lee & Colautti, 2022; Milla et al, 2019; Rousis et al, 2022; Stemmler et al, 2021; Webber et al, 2017), that are worthy of consideration in a future systematic review focusing on qualitative evidence for the SQT. For instance, one study, relying on a secondary source, observed that female suicide attackers reported greater significance loss than male suicide attackers who, in turn, reported greater perceived opportunity for significance gain (Webber et al, 2017).…”

“…For instance, one study, relying on a secondary source, observed that female suicide attackers reported greater significance loss than male suicide attackers who, in turn, reported greater perceived opportunity for significance gain (Webber et al, 2017). Additionally, based on interviews conducted with Muslim radical and nonradical inmates, Stemmler et al (2021) showed that although both groups suffered from individual burdens (e.g., substance abuse problems, growing up without a father), radical individuals mentioned conspiracy theories, adhered to a dualistic conception of the world (us vs. them), and seemed affected by the grievances of Muslims to a greater extent than nonradical individuals. Similarly, for practical reasons, as the present review focuses on the three variables of the 3N model (need, narrative, and network), as well as quest for significance, and their association with extremism, we did not provide details of findings concerning other variables, such as sensation-seeking (Schumpe et al, 2020), the need for cognitive closure (Bélanger, Moyano, et al, 2019), and anomia (Mahfud & Adam-Troian, 2021; Troian et al, 2019).…”

The Significance Quest Theory and the 3N model: A systematic review

“…Because of their specificities and richness, it seemed difficult to parsimoniously include qualitative data in the present review. Nevertheless, we have identified five reports 9 (Lee & Colautti, 2022;Milla et al, 2019;Rousis et al, 2020;Stemmler et al, 2021;Webber et al, 2017), that are worthy of consideration in a future systematic review focusing on qualitative evidence for the SQT. For instance, one study, relying on a secondary source, observed that female suicide attackers reported greater significance loss than male suicide attackers who, in turn, reported greater perceived opportunity for significance gain (Webber et al, 2017).…”

“…For instance, one study, relying on a secondary source, observed that female suicide attackers reported greater significance loss than male suicide attackers who, in turn, reported greater perceived opportunity for significance gain (Webber et al, 2017). Additionally, based on interviews conducted with Muslim radical and nonradical inmates, Stemmler et al (2021) showed that although both groups suffered from individual burdens (e.g., substance abuse problems, growing up without a father), radical individuals mentioned conspiracy theories, adhered to a dualistic conception of the world (us vs. them), and seemed affected by the grievances of to a greater extent than nonradical individuals. Similarly, for practical reasons, as the present review focuses on the three variables of the 3N model (need, narrative, and network), as well as quest for significance, and their association with extremism, we did not provide details of findings concerning other variables, such as sensation-seeking , the need for cognitive closure , and anomia (Mahfud & Adam-Troian, 2021;Adam-Troian et al, 2019).…”