Transnational evaluation of the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale: Measuring population attitudes toward violent radicalization in two countries

Abstract

Countering violent radicalization is a priority in many countries, prompting research that assesses attitudes and beliefs about violent radicalization in the general population. The majority of violent radicalization assessments have been developed among specific populations, with limited investigation into the generalizability and cross-cultural applicability of measurement tools. A transcultural investigation raises questions about the implicit assumptions and norms that inform instrument development. This research examined the psychometric properties of the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SyfoR), a measure developed for use with Pakistani and Bangladeshi immigrant groups in the UK, in two convenience samples of youth and young adults in North America and Western Europe. We investigated the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of adapted versions of the SyfoR among convenience samples of youth and young adults living in Belgium ( N = 2014) and in Quebec, Canada ( N = 1364) via online surveys administered to students engaged in secondary and post-secondary education. Results indicate that, in both samples, a reduced, 8-item version of the SyfoR has a 3-factor structure with good model fit statistics using confirmatory factor analysis and good internal consistency reliability. More studies are needed to assess the appropriateness of the SyfoR for use in diverse contexts and among diverse populations. The potential usefulness and harmfulness of measures of violent radicalization should balance the benefits of obtaining local data with the risks associated with pathologizing social dissent.

Conspiracy Theories, Psychological Distress, and Sympathy for Violent Radicalization in Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…A total score (range 8-56) of sympathy for radicalization was used in this study (excluding the non-violent protest item). The SyfoR has been adapted to Canadian contexts [24]. Cronbach's alpha in this study was 0.97.…”

Radicalism and Life Meaningfulness Among Hong Kong Youth

“…Age, marriage, and family income per capita diminished radicalism, and marriage additionally lessened life meaningfulness. The diminishment stems from the reduced meaning of crime with age, considering the criminal feature of radicalism (Frounfelker et al, 2021 ; Lyons, 2008 ). Similarly, marriage tends to dampen meanings in collective action, crime, and violence (Bjerk, 2009; Wright et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Hunter, 2009 ; Koehler, 2017). Moreover, radicalism has involved or stemmed from criminal or violent behavior or orientation (Amjad, 2009 ; J. Berger, 2018 ; Frounfelker et al, 2021 ; Koehler & Fiebig, 2019 ). Crime, radicalism, and violence can thus be the sources of meaning, which is not antisocial according to those exhibiting crime, radicalism, or violence (Barr and Simons, 2015 ; Sinko et al, 2021 ; Stern, 2016).…”

“…These features sustain the prevalence of radicalism among youth (Botticher, 2017 ; Ghosh et al, 2017 ). Meanwhile, countering radicalism or deradicalization is a policy priority, as in the rise of profiling, surveillance, risk management, and securitization (Clubb & O’connor, 2019 ; Frounfelker et al, 2021 ). Notably, life meaningfulness is a developmental focus for deradicalization (Sukabdi, 2019 ).…”

Meaning in Life, Future Orientation and Support for Violent Radicalization Among Canadian College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A sample item is: "I would continue to support an organization that fights for my group's political and legal rights even if the organization sometimes resorts to violence." The scale has good psychometric properties among young adults(62,63). Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega for the sample were both 0.85.…”