Adolescents Engaged in Radicalisation and Terrorism: A Dimensional and Categorical Assessment

Abstract

Since 2010 and the founding of the Islamic State, the radicalisation phenomenon in Europe has involved more adolescents and converts to Islam than in previous Islamist terrorist group movements (e.g., Al-Qaeda). In most cases, these adolescents are “homegrown terrorists,” a challenging difference, as they are in confrontation with their home and societal environment. As a new and emerging phenomenon, radicalisation leads to many questions. Are empathic capacities altered? Are they presenting psychiatric pathologies or suicidal tendencies that explain why they put themselves in serious dangers? Are they just young delinquents who simply met a radical ideology? In January 2018, by special Justice Department authorisation, we contacted all minors (N = 31) convicted in France for “criminal association to commit terrorism.” We assessed several sociodemographic, clinical and psychological variables, including empathy and suicidality, in half of them (N = 15) and compared them with 101 teenagers convicted for non-terrorist delinquency who were placed in Closed Educational Centres (CEC). The results show that adolescents engaged in radicalisation and terrorism do not have a significant prevalence of psychiatric disorders, suicidal tendencies or lack of empathy. It also appears that they have different psychological profiles than delinquent adolescents. “Radicalised” adolescents show better intellectual skills, insight capacities and coping strategies. In addition, the manifestation of their difficulties is less externalised than adolescents from the CEC, having committed very few delinquent acts.

Mental disorder, psychological problems and terrorist behaviour: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of these, five studies reported on diagnosed disorder (Bronsard et al, 2022; Capellan, 2015; Dhumad et al, 2020; Liem et al, 2018; Lyons & Harbinson, 1986), five report rates of psychological problems (Capellan & Anisin, 2018; Capellan et al, 2019; Capellan, 2015; Kupper & Meloy, 2021; Liem et al, 2018), and one reported on suspected disorder (Horgan et al, 2016).…”

“…Excluding Bakker's (2006) sample of 242 individuals, less than 50 individuals were recruited to the other studies (Bronsard et al, 2022 n = 15; Lyons & Harbinson, 1986 n = 47; Merari et al, 2010 n = 41 (all samples); Merari & Ganor, 2020 n = 39). Both papers from Merari focused on Palestinian terrorism and invovled interviews with incarcerated terrorists.…”

“…Studies drew on samples from Europe (Bronsard et al, 2022; Liem et al, 2018; Lyons & Harbinson, 1986), the USA (Capellan & Anisin, 2018; Capellan et al, 2019; Capellan, 2015; Horgan et al, 2016) and Iraq (Dhumad et al, 2020). One study reported on samples from the USA, Finland, New Zealand, Canada and Europe (Kupper & Meloy, 2021).…”

“…Item 1 relates to the comparability of the two groups, with six studies assessed as low risk of bias and one as high. Bronsard et al (2022) compared two groups of juvenile offenders but same sizes diverged (15 vs. 101) and it is not clear that the groups were comparable on factors other than offence type. Item 2 related to the recruitment of the two samples and the extent to which they are representative of their respective populations.…”

A Clinical and Psychopathological Approach to Radicalization Among Adolescents

“…However, the marginal aspect of radicalization and the lack of publications offering a psychopathological perspective on radical conduct among adolescents justify this choice. It would be interesting to extend the present research through other studies that create a dialogue between public health studies ( 64 – 67 ), investigations using standardized scales in medium-sized samples of adolescents who are “at risk of radicalization” or who have become “radicalised” ( 26 , 68 ), and studies with a psychopathological perspective based on concrete case reports ( 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 ).…”