Abstract
Introduction: Radicalization is a major issue in Western societies. Supposedly, there is no predefined pathway leading to radicalization. However, youth appears to be at risk for radicalization. The aim of this study was to compare the social and psychological profiles of radicalized minors and radicalized adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on the first large prospective sample of young French individuals (N = 150) who aimed to join the Islamic State (IS) between 2014 and 2016. This sample included 70 adolescents (mean age 15.82 years old, SD 1.14) and 80 young adults (mean age 23.32 years, SD 4.99). We compared the two groups on their sociodemographic and psychological characteristics. Results: Radicalized minors and radicalized adults have different profiles and follow different paths in the radicalization process. Among the group of minors, there are significantly more female subjects (81.4% versus 55.0%, adj. p = 0.007) and more self-harm history before radicalization (44.3% versus 16.2%, p <0.001). In addition, there are significantly less attempts to radicalize the entourage (24.3% versus 50.0%, adj. p = 0.007), and a tendency to show less cases of radicalization among the entourage (32.9% versus 52.5%, adj. p = 0.075) and less radicalization through physical encounter (45.7% versus 65%, adj. p = 0.082). Discussion: Overall, radicalized minors appear to be more psychologically vulnerable individuals than radicalized adults. These differences highlight the importance of tailored interventions in order to prevent radicalization among vulnerable adolescents.
Highlights
Radicalization is a major issue in Western societies
The understanding of terrorist acts has changed in recent years in Europe with the increase of ‘homegrown’ terrorists, born and raised in Europe, who adopt the ideology of violent radical Islamism [3,4,5]
We observed that the minors had more self-harm history before radicalization (44.3% for minors versus 16.2% for adults, adj. p < 0.001) and that, after having come out of the process of radicalization, there were fewer minors who were still considered as Muslims than in the group of de-radicalized adults (85.7% versus 97.5%, adj. p = 0.044), suggesting that the identifications of adolescents are more labile than those of adults
Summary
Radicalization is a major issue in Western societies. Supposedly, there is no predefined pathway leading to radicalization. According to the Global Attack Index, 22,487 terrorist attacks have been committed worldwide in 2017, the Islamic State being the most active group [2]. The Islamic State has been defeated recently in Iraq and Syria, its leader Abou Bakr Al-Baghdadi sent an audio message in August 2018 encouraging terrorists. The understanding of terrorist acts has changed in recent years in Europe with the increase of ‘homegrown’ terrorists, born and raised in Europe, who adopt the ideology of violent radical Islamism [3,4,5]. Beyond the repressive and security apparatus, many researchers and professionals from the fields of anthropology, political science, sociology, psychology, and psychiatry have been involved in understanding radicalization in order to prevent terrorism
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