Exploring Psychology of Terrorism: Radicalization and Social Media

This essay examines the psychological factors associated with terrorism, particularly the process of online radicalization among youth. It discusses how the internet and social media platforms are used to spread extremist ideologies and recruit individuals, often exploiting religious beliefs and vulnerabilities. The essay highlights the importance of education and correct religious values as counter-measures to prevent radicalization. It also touches upon the challenges of de-radicalization and reintegration into society, emphasizing the need for psychological counseling and addressing social and economic factors. The conclusion underscores the role of education in empowering youth to critically assess information and resist extremist influences, promoting peace and understanding.

Running head: TERRORISM ASSOCIATED PSYCHOLOGY
TERRORISM ASSOCIATED PSYCHOLOGY
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Introduction:
Radicalization is a process by which individuals become progressively driven towards
the use of violence against an out-group associates or representative targets in order to
achieve changes and political goals. Radicalization can be opposed by accumulative social,
religious and political trust among individuals (Borum, 2017). Online radicalization is a
procedure by which the youth or a set of individuals tends to embrace political, religious or
social aspirations that discards the current concepts and expression on a country leading to
violence. Terrorism is a deed of violence that can be domestic or worldwide committed in
contradiction of the non-combatants which aims to make changes by creating terror in a
population. Terrorism is an effect of radicalization in a group of people, who intends to bring
change using violence (Harindranath, 2017).
The purpose of this study is to outspread how online platforms are used in order to
deliberately advance self- radicalisation into individuals in relation to terrorism and about the
youth which is getting influenced.
Discussion:
Internet now a day plays a major role in most of the people’s lives. It provides
possibilities to support, asses to information, liberty to express and confidentiality. Internet
plays a major role in violent radicalization process across the world. The terrorist
organisations are now spread all over the internet and are using the technology in different
ways such as spreading violence to recruiting youths by manipulating them using their
religious beliefs. It has been noted that terrorist organisations in different regions of the world
perform their recruitment from their supporters who are poor and uneducated (Aly et al.,
2017). And it has been observed that radicalisation is not in control of the those who are not

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schooled and are economically underprivileged. Psychological and other factors such as self-
image, religious beliefs and one’s attitude plays a major role on how an individual reacts and
adapts to his/her surroundings. The individual may have the effect of negativity, rejections,
humiliation, injustice and revolts that is developing (Meleagrou-Hitchens, Alexander &
Kaderbhai, 2017).
Radicalization in youths are increasing due to the use of social media, as youths are so
influenced by the digital world that they believe whatever in shown in the virtual world. And
the terror groups are using it as a means of influencing and increasing their number. Youths
will less knowledge and wrong religious beliefs are getting attracted toward whatever the
social media or may be the surrounding is showing them without judging (Wikström &
Bouhana, 2016).
For the radicalized individuals to re-integrate into civilization, they must understand their
mistakes, they should understand what they were thinking or doing was not right. The
rehabilitation method de-radicalise these individuals by involving them in serious religious
debates and should be taught properly what is holly and what is the true meaning of their religion.
Psychological counselling is also required to brain wash all negative believes and thinking they
possess. There is also various subcommittee that deliver consideration to the radicalized
individuals (Macdougall et al., 2018). Social requirements as well as motivations and benefits
are rewarded to those who show positive result and has completed the rehabilitation course and
have reasonably abandoned their previous religious beliefs. But it has also been seen that the rate
of people getting rehabilitated are very less, like the case of former Jemaah Islamiyah members,
only a quarter of them where re-integrated into the society. The radicalized individuals are so
determined and influenced by their wrong believes and lack of education, that it becomes
very difficult to bring them to right path. And at the same time the social media catalyses
their thinking that it becomes tough to rehabilitated them (Doosje et al., 2016)

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Education is believed to be the most effective measure that can be taken against
terrorist radicalization and extremists. Educating the youth, engaging them towards
academics and career goals will keep them away from getting brain washed and join terror
groups. Lack of knowledge is a major factor that is increasing radicalization in the youth.
Education gives you the capability to understand and judge thing in a better and correct way.
People with less education are more probable to join terrorist organisations. As these terrorist
provide them with large amount of money and lie that the get attracted toward the
organization. And one the reasons can be the unemployment rate, youth with less education
are more prone to unemployment, hence to get an income source they chose whatever path
they find (Durodie, 2016).
Teaching correct religious values is also important in helping individuals develop
positive attitudes and behaviours encouraging to peace. Radicalism and terrorism together
incline to be damaging, unbending and can be related to violent outcome in the name of
religious belief. One of the example is jihad which is a form of a Muslim's devoutness to
God, which is troubled not only with self-defence exertions, but a battle that possess a
religious validity in which it is promised to martyrs by God with several assets and benefits.
The relationship of jihad and terrorism now days is not justified due to the fact that jihad is
used as a key to war and involves violence means that can be characterized as terrorism. It
has been seen that terrorist is using violence in the name of jihad and misguiding the youth of
various regions that lack education and proper knowledge (Christie, 2018). They are brain
washed in the name of god and devote their lives towards terrorism, think it is for holly
purpose.

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Conclusion:
To conclude, it can be stated that education and the correct knowledge about in respective
religious beliefs. Youth lacking education and wrong beliefs are mostly driven toward getting
radicalized by whatever they see online and leads themselves to terrorism. They don’t have
the capability to judge what is right and wrong and end up joining terrorist organizations.
Such youth are easy to brain wash as they don’t have the much education and follows
whatever is taking the name of their religious beliefs (Adamczyk & LaFree, 2015). To avoid
radicalization and terrorism in the youth, better strategies for education should be implicated
in every region and the right meaning of their beliefs should be taught.

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