Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Violent Extremism
- The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Violent Extremism
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Concepts, Definitions, and Trends
- Part II Individual-Level Perspectives
- 4 Individual Differences and Violent Extremism: Personality, Mental Disorders, and Risk Pathways
- 5 Conceptualizing Diversity among Violent Extremists
- 6 The Role of Gender in Violent Extremism
- 7 Quest for Significance and Violent Extremism
- 8 Religious Fundamentalism and Violent Extremism
- 9 Conspiracy Theories and Violent Extremism
- 10 Violent Extremism and the Moral Landscape
- 11 Emotions in Violent Extremism
- Part III Group-Level Perspectives
- Part IV Macro-Level Perspectives
- Index
- References
5 - Conceptualizing Diversity among Violent Extremists
A Typology and a Model for Explaining Change
from Part II - Individual-Level Perspectives
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 October 2025
By
Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Violent Extremism
- The Cambridge Handbook of the Psychology of Violent Extremism
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Contributors
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Concepts, Definitions, and Trends
- Part II Individual-Level Perspectives
- 4 Individual Differences and Violent Extremism: Personality, Mental Disorders, and Risk Pathways
- 5 Conceptualizing Diversity among Violent Extremists
- 6 The Role of Gender in Violent Extremism
- 7 Quest for Significance and Violent Extremism
- 8 Religious Fundamentalism and Violent Extremism
- 9 Conspiracy Theories and Violent Extremism
- 10 Violent Extremism and the Moral Landscape
- 11 Emotions in Violent Extremism
- Part III Group-Level Perspectives
- Part IV Macro-Level Perspectives
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter constructs five ideal types of participants who undergo quite diverse processes of joining and leaving violent extremist groups: “ideologists,” “followers,” “adventurers,” “misfits,” and “traditionalists”. These five types tend to be influenced by relatively distinct combinations of push, pull, and barrier factors. The implications of this analysis are that to prevent recruitment into and engagement in violent extremism, push and pull factors should be reduced, and barriers to participation should be reinforced. Likewise, to facilitate disengagement from violent extremism, push and pull factors should be reinforced, and barriers to disengagement and reintegration should be reduced. Importantly, to be relevant and effective, preventive interventions should be targeted to the specific type of person in question, addressing their specific drivers or needs.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
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