title: Psychological vulnerabilities and propensities for involvement in violent extremism.
abstract: Research on the psychology of terrorism has argued against the idea that most terrorist behavior is caused by mental illness or by a terrorist personality. This article suggests an alternative line of inquiry - an individual psychology of terrorism that explores how otherwise normal mental states and processes, built on characteristic attitudes, dispositions, inclinations, and intentions, might affect a person's propensity for involvement with violent extremist groups and actions. It uses the concepts of "mindset" - a relatively enduring set of attitudes, dispositions, and inclinations - and worldview as the basis of a psychological "climate," within which various vulnerabilities and propensities shape ideas and behaviors in ways that can increase the person's risk or likelihood of involvement in violent extremism.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borum
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001318:Authoritarianism; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D012933:Social Identification; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*