Radicalization Models: The Wiktorowicz and NYPD Model

RADICALIZATION MODELS
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Radicalization Models
Wiktorowicz’s model for joining extremist groups
Wiktorowicz emphasized on ‘cognitive opening’ to be the main reason why people are radicalized. According to CITATION Nev16 \l 1033 (Bondokji, Wilkinson, & Aghabi, 2016), the cognitive opening is ‘when an individual who is facing a crisis becomes prone to altering her/his previously held perceptions.’ the cognitive opening is prompted by political, social and economic factors. Extremists groups also actively implant their dogma to stimulate the cognitive opening to a susceptible individual. Extremist groups use all avenue possible, the media, one-on-one interactions, demonstrations, etc. To induce the ‘cognitive opening.’ If the individual is religious, the extremist group package their information to prompt ‘religious seeking. Religious seeking is a psychological construct that prompt people to seek the meaning of their lives through religion. After this, the individual entered ‘frame alignment’ phase where he/she tries to align the extremist group’s ideologies with his/her own views. If the ‘frame aligns,’ the individual becomes a member of the extremist group and adopts its ideologies and hence becomes a terrorist. If the frame does not align, the individual abandons the process.
Wiktorowicz’s model for joining extremist groups
Borum’s four-stage model for the process of ideological development
CITATION Bor11 \l 1033 (Borum, 2011) argued that radicalization starts when an individual recognizes and or finds out that some elements are ‘not right.’ these elements are mostly economic and political, i.e. Political restrictions, high rates of unemployment, poverty, etc. The individual frames these elements as ‘not fair’ and attributes it to another person’s fault. The individual then demonizes the enemy, and that validates his/her decisions to opt for violence.
Borum’s four-stage model for the process of ideological development
NYPD model of Jihadi-Salafi radicalization
The New York police department structured a theory of radicalization that starts at pre-radicalization. In this stage, the individual is susceptible to radicalization, but he/she has not been exposed to Jihadi-Salafi ideologies. The desire to seek identification stems from individual frustrations emanating from social, cultural, political or religious enlightenment. These factors prompt the individual to enter the ‘self-identification’ stage where he/she carefully examines the Salafi Islam (jihadism) ideological principles. The next stage is indoctrination where the ‘individual’s beliefs intensify, and she/he surrounds herself/himself only with like-minded individuals.’ the individual continuously consumes the extremist content which aligns with his/her views and justifies them from the religious books. The last phase is jihadization whe...