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Psychiatry of Radicalization and Terrorism in the Lone Wolf, Children, and Women: An E-ethnographic Approach for Analysis

Received: 10 August 2019    Accepted: 27 August 2019    Published: 10 September 2019
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Abstract

Radicalization is a global event affecting different countries and present in different historical contexts. Psychiatrists can help in the analysis of radicalization in individuals who operate autonomously from more radicalized groups. These lone actors or lone wolves are more difficult to spot as there is no unique identification because they operate as self-determined women or men. A focus of the current study is on the radicalization of children and women. The use of ethnographic research also using Internet sources has provided satisfactory results in the analysis of radicalization while reducing the risk and difficulties of approaching a sample population (terrorists, lone wolves, and radical groups) that, most of the time, is remote, dangerous and concealed to public scrutiny. Emphasis is also provided to the stages of development of radicalized thought and how radicalization can be understood in terms of cognitive and social development of the lone-wolf terrorist. The authors also explore how a radicalized leader can lever on the vulnerability of some individuals to radicalize them. Besides, the authors approach radicalized thought also as a logical fallacy and as a sign of dualistic thinking. Hence, a mix of cognitive, logical, and psychiatric triggers is analyzed in their potential to radicalize.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 7, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12
Page(s) 57-68
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radicalization, Lone Wolf, Psychiatry, Ethnography, Internet

References
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  • APA Style

    Carlo Lazzari, Abdul Nusair, Marco Rabottini. (2019). Psychiatry of Radicalization and Terrorism in the Lone Wolf, Children, and Women: An E-ethnographic Approach for Analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 7(3), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12

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    ACS Style

    Carlo Lazzari; Abdul Nusair; Marco Rabottini. Psychiatry of Radicalization and Terrorism in the Lone Wolf, Children, and Women: An E-ethnographic Approach for Analysis. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019, 7(3), 57-68. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12

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    AMA Style

    Carlo Lazzari, Abdul Nusair, Marco Rabottini. Psychiatry of Radicalization and Terrorism in the Lone Wolf, Children, and Women: An E-ethnographic Approach for Analysis. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;7(3):57-68. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12,
      author = {Carlo Lazzari and Abdul Nusair and Marco Rabottini},
      title = {Psychiatry of Radicalization and Terrorism in the Lone Wolf, Children, and Women: An E-ethnographic Approach for Analysis},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {7},
      number = {3},
      pages = {57-68},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20190703.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20190703.12},
      abstract = {Radicalization is a global event affecting different countries and present in different historical contexts. Psychiatrists can help in the analysis of radicalization in individuals who operate autonomously from more radicalized groups. These lone actors or lone wolves are more difficult to spot as there is no unique identification because they operate as self-determined women or men. A focus of the current study is on the radicalization of children and women. The use of ethnographic research also using Internet sources has provided satisfactory results in the analysis of radicalization while reducing the risk and difficulties of approaching a sample population (terrorists, lone wolves, and radical groups) that, most of the time, is remote, dangerous and concealed to public scrutiny. Emphasis is also provided to the stages of development of radicalized thought and how radicalization can be understood in terms of cognitive and social development of the lone-wolf terrorist. The authors also explore how a radicalized leader can lever on the vulnerability of some individuals to radicalize them. Besides, the authors approach radicalized thought also as a logical fallacy and as a sign of dualistic thinking. Hence, a mix of cognitive, logical, and psychiatric triggers is analyzed in their potential to radicalize.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    AB  - Radicalization is a global event affecting different countries and present in different historical contexts. Psychiatrists can help in the analysis of radicalization in individuals who operate autonomously from more radicalized groups. These lone actors or lone wolves are more difficult to spot as there is no unique identification because they operate as self-determined women or men. A focus of the current study is on the radicalization of children and women. The use of ethnographic research also using Internet sources has provided satisfactory results in the analysis of radicalization while reducing the risk and difficulties of approaching a sample population (terrorists, lone wolves, and radical groups) that, most of the time, is remote, dangerous and concealed to public scrutiny. Emphasis is also provided to the stages of development of radicalized thought and how radicalization can be understood in terms of cognitive and social development of the lone-wolf terrorist. The authors also explore how a radicalized leader can lever on the vulnerability of some individuals to radicalize them. Besides, the authors approach radicalized thought also as a logical fallacy and as a sign of dualistic thinking. Hence, a mix of cognitive, logical, and psychiatric triggers is analyzed in their potential to radicalize.
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Author Information
  • Department of Psychiatry, South-west Yorkshire Trust, Wakefield, United Kingdom

  • Department of Psychiatry, South-west Yorkshire Trust, Wakefield, United Kingdom

  • Department Psychiatry, International Centre of Healthcare and Medical Education, Bristol, United Kingdom

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