The moral compass and life skills in navigating radicalization processes

Examining the interplay among life skills, moral disengagement, and extremism

Bibliographic Data

ID21391912
AuthorsSimon Ozer (0000-0002-4881-4201, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Research Unit Life Psychology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark, corresponding author), Preben Bertelsen (0000-0001-8782-6478, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Research Unit Life Psychology Aarhus University Aarhus C Denmark)
Year2020
Volume61
Issue5
Pages642-651
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.12636
PMID32170878
OpenAlexW3012115835
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited44

The present study investigated the interplay among deficient life skills, moral disengagement, and extremist attitude across two national contexts. Using a sample of young students in high school or college ( N = 686), the present study found significant indirect effects between deficient life skills (agency and structure) and various aspects of an extremist mindset through moral disengagement. These findings suggest that these two psychological concepts of life skills and moral disengagement are relevant for understanding and countering violent radicalization processes; that is to say that morality can direct the life skills toward either violent extremism or nonviolent, legal civil participation. Furthermore, the development and empowerment of life skills could enhance individual resilience to morally disengaging narratives and radicalized ideologies

Developmental psychology · Moral disengagement · Political science · Radicalization · Social cognitive theory of morality · Terrorism · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence