Radicalization Among Juveniles
A Literature Review about Age as a Potential Risk Factor for Radicalization and
Terrorism
Bachelor Thesis
Maastricht University
Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience
April, 2019
Wordcount: 5631
Abstract
,Can the vulnerability of juveniles towards radicalization be explained by their developmental
stage and their environment?
Radicalization and terrorism are a major issue in our society and it has become more
prominent over last years. This literature review addresses the question what factors might
explain differences between juveniles and adults that make juveniles more prone to
radicalization. Several risk factors in adolescents are identified and described. First, biological
differences between adolescents and adults may play a role in decision-making and risk-
taking behavior in adolescents. The most significant biological difference is the fact that the
brain (i.e., the prefrontal cortex) of adolescents is not yet fully developed which, as a
consequence might make juveniles more vulnerable to radicalization. Second, environmental
factors contribute to the vulnerability of adolescents to radicalize. Important differences in the
environment of juveniles compared to adults are; the influence of peers, group-membership
and influences of the media such as the internet. The design and implementation of prevention
programs might fit better and might be more effective than previous programs if the causes of
the vulnerability towards radicalization in juveniles are identified.
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, Can the vulnerability of juveniles towards radicalization be explained by their developmental
stage and their environment?
Introduction
In the Prevent Strategy of 2011, radicalization is defined as “a process by which a person
comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.” Terrorism is an
action that causes serious damage to property; causes violence or danger to a person/people;
or interferes with an electronic system. Its goal is often to intimidate the public and spread
fear for the purpose of advancing a religious, political or ideological cause (“Prevent
strategy”, 2011).
Over the last few years radicalization and terrorism have become much more
prominent, especially in the Western culture since in 2017 the number of individuals arrested
for terrorism-related offences in the EU has grown compared to previous years. Also,
compared to 2016, the number of foiled, failed and completed terrorist attacks has grown in
2017 (“Terrorism Situation and Trend”, 2018). Because of this the level of threat of terrorism
in some European countries has risen to the level of ‘severe’, which means that an attack is
highly likely and can occur at any time (“Prevent strategy”, 2011). Consider for example the
suicide bombings in Brussels on March 26th, 2016. As a result of three bombings more than
270 people were injured and thirty-two civilians were killed (Kämper & van Hove, 2016).
Another terroristic attack happened in Paris in January 2015, when eleven employees of the
French newspaper ‘Charlie’ were killed by members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda
(Kuzmany, 2015). Both attacks caused many innocent victims so fighting terrorism is
important. In order to combat terrorism, it is essential to have accurate data.
Data collected in Germany shows that individuals who went to Syria because of
extremist motivations are on average 25.8 years old. The largest group of these departees
were aged between 22 and 25 years. Moreover, since 2014 these departees became younger
(23.5 years in 2016 vs. 26.7 years in 2014) and the percentage of individuals under the age of
18 among them increased (16% in 2016 vs. 5% in 2014) (“Analyse der
Radikalisierungshintergründe”, 2016). Furthermore, most terrorist offences are committed by
people under 30 years old and support for violent extremism is significantly higher amongst
young people compared to older age groups (“Prevent strategy”, 2011). The question now
raises why more and more young adults get radicalized or turn to terrorism. Several risk
factors for radicalization such as a criminal history, poor health, depression and social
inequalities have already been identified (Bhui, Warfa, & Jones, 2014). Could age be a risk
factor as well?
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