Quest for Significance and Violent Extremism: The Case of Domestic Radicalization

• NCJ Number: 253273
• Date Published: 2017
• Length: 17 pages
• Author(s): Katarzyna Jasko; Gary LaFree; Arie Kruglanski
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Grant Number(s): 2012-ZA-BX-0005
• Award: Empirical Assessment of Domestic Radicalization

Annotation

This study applied the quest for significance model of radicalization to explain the use of political violence.

Abstract

The study tested this prediction in a sample of individuals who had committed ideologically motivated crimes in the United States. The study found that experiences of economic and social loss of significance were separate and positive predictors related to the use of violence by perpetrators of ideologically motivated crimes. The study also found evidence that the presence of radicalized others (friends but not family members) in the individuals' social networks increased their likelihood of using violence. (publisher abstract modified)