Leaving ideological groups behind: A model of disengagement

Harris, Kira J; Gringart, Eyal; Drake, Deirdre

doi:10.1080/19434472.2017.1299782

Cited by 18 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…59 In this contribution it refers to a declining commitment to ideological groups' belief systems as a result of dissonance. 60 Data indicated that like belief reaffirmation, disengagement among participants had both a discursive and behavioral dimension. On the discursive level, disengagement notably manifested through participants' condemnation of ISIS's methods and through their reinterpretation of what "doing jihad" meant.…”

Section: Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…65 While the data did not allow for the drawing of conclusions on whether participants had indeed experienced initial doubts or were rather motivated by social desirability (or both), they seemed to no longer perceive the identity they derived from their involvement in extremist milieus as desirable, either because they did not identify anymore with ISIS's norms and values or because the demise of the Caliphate made ISIS membership far less attractive. 66 Claiming to have experienced doubts at the same time allowed them to morally disengage from ISIS's actions and methods, and thus to present themselves in a way that was more acceptable to outsiders (and potentially more consistent with their present self-concept). 67 While participants reported having experienced initial doubts toward ISIS's legitimacy, they at the same time continued to adhere to jihadi ideals.…”

Section: Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Losing Mood(s): Examining Jihadi Supporters’ Responses to ISIS’ Territorial Decline

Massé

2020

Terrorism and Political Violence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The fall of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has raised a number of questions over the future of the organization and the potential threat it might continue to pose. While some commenters argue that the demise of the Caliphate will reduce ISIS's global appeal, others have stressed the role that jihadi supporters may play in perpetuating ISIS's ideological legacy. Yet, little is known on how supporters have responded to recent changes in circumstances. Employing a cognitive dissonance approach, this contribution examines the implications of ISIS's defeat on twelve jihadi supporters' commitment. It shows that while a minority of supporters have disengaged, the majority have remained committed to the group. While these differences stress the influence of personal situational factors on supporters' responses, the data at the same time indicates that dissonance has preceded in some cases ISIS's defeat. The contribution overall shows that integrating cognitive dissonance theory to the study of radicalization and terrorism can provide a more nuanced understanding of how individuals renegotiate the nature of their involvement in extremism when confronted by changes in circumstances.

show abstract

Section: Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Losing Mood(s): Examining Jihadi Supporters’ Responses to ISIS’ Territorial Decline

Massé

2020

Terrorism and Political Violence

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Studies on the process of leaving ideological social groups—such as radical groups ( Demant et al 2008 ) and militant extremist groups ( Bjørgo and Horgan 2009 ; Bjørgo 2011 )—also point to disillusionment as the main source of disengagement. In an overview of the literature on gangs, violent extremist and religious groups, Harris (2015) discerns several individual factors leading to disengagement. Firstly, disillusionment is fed by normative factors like losing faith in the group’s ideology, frustrations about the lack of success, or being confronted with violence.…”

Section: Leaving Gangs: the Role Of Disillusionmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Firstly, disillusionment is fed by normative factors like losing faith in the group’s ideology, frustrations about the lack of success, or being confronted with violence. Secondly, Harris (2015) describes affective components causing disillusionment due to failing group organization or inadequate leadership. Continuance factors, lastly, are practical life circumstances such as maturation, competing social relationships, external pressures, and stigmatization that may lead to disillusionment ( Harris 2015 ).…”

Section: Leaving Gangs: the Role Of Disillusionmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crip or Die? Gang Disengagement in the Netherlands

Roks

2017

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Building on the growing body of research on gang desistance and disengagement, this article focusses on the departure of 20 members of the Dutch Rollin 200 Crips during three years of ethnographic fieldwork (2011–2013) in a small neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague. In this article, I retrace the process of gang disengagement from the onset of conflicts within the gang, the growing discontent with Dutch gang life, up until the actual departure of several members. Specific attention will be drawn to the methods, motives, and consequences of leaving this Dutch “gang” and the role of disillusionment in the process of disengagement.Younger members encountered a lack of financial compensation for the work they put in for the gang, which on the long run outweighed the benefits associated with being in the gang. Contrary to popular gang myths, most Dutch members cut ties with the gang abruptly and left without any repercussions. The importance of contextualized accounts of gang desistance and disengagement is highlighted, with specific attention to alternatives for gang life and the difficulties related to identity in the process of disengagement.

show abstract

“…Since then much has happened. A number of studies have begun to shed light on processes of disengagement and deradicalization from terrorism, both collective and individual (for example, Ashour 2009; Bjørgo and Horgan 2009; Dalgaard-Nielsen 2013; El-Said 2015; Gunaratna and Bin Ali 2015; Harris, Gringart, and Drake 2017; Horgan 2009; Hwang 2015; Koehler 2016a). International organizations, governments and high-level governance bodies have started to involve countering violent extremism (CVE) practices and terrorist rehabilitation programs in their own counter-terrorism strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parents’ Associations, Support Group Interventions and Countering Violent Extremism: An Important Step Forward in Combating Violent Radicalization

Köehler¹,

Ehrt²

2018

Int. ann. criminol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article offers an introduction for constructing family self-help groups or parent associations in the field of countering violent extremism (CVE) and deradicalization. These support group interventions are an essential addition to recently developed family counseling CVE programs, which have been created in multiple countries since 2012. Based on interviews with parents of deceased foreign terrorist fighters, this article was able to identify the most pressing practical needs of parents and to suggest specific measures to address these. The most important needs voiced by parents are: loneliness, trauma, understanding, acquiring a death certificate, access to personal files, problems with child care (criminalization), and fear of the media. Support groups can be designed to address these issues with a specific CVE focus.

show abstract

Leaving ideological groups behind: A model of disengagement

Cited by 18 publications

References 16 publications

Losing Mood(s): Examining Jihadi Supporters’ Responses to ISIS’ Territorial Decline

Losing Mood(s): Examining Jihadi Supporters’ Responses to ISIS’ Territorial Decline

Crip or Die? Gang Disengagement in the Netherlands

Parents’ Associations, Support Group Interventions and Countering Violent Extremism: An Important Step Forward in Combating Violent Radicalization

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About