Analysis of the radicalization of the 17-A terrorist cellan empirical approach using the 3N model

  1. Irene González
  2. Manuel Moyano
  3. Roberto M. Lobato
  4. Humberto M. Trujillo
Revista:
International Journal of Social Psychology, Revista de Psicología Social

ISSN: 0213-4748 1579-3680

Any de publicació: 2022

Volum: 37

Número: 3

Pàgines: 529-553

Tipus: Article

Altres publicacions en: International Journal of Social Psychology, Revista de Psicología Social

Resum

Radicalization is a complex process given the fact that several factors interact in it. In order to gain an overview of these factors, a case study was performed of the cell that carried out the terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils. The 3N model of radicalization was used, which proposes three factors: needs, narratives and networks. The content of the order handed down by the National High Court and the police proceedings of Mossos d’Esquadra, the police force in Catalonia, were analysed to identify possible indicators of those three factors which may have contributed to the radicalization within the 17-A cell. The results showed the existence of different indicators such as providing a life purpose, giving personal significance, exposure to extremist propaganda materials, the assimilation of values, identity fusion and having a common cause. We conclude by stressing the importance of considering the interaction of multiple factors in understanding radicalization in all its complexity.

Referències bibliogràfiques

  • Atran, S., & Axelrod, R. (2008). Reframing sacred values. Negotiation Journal, 24(3), 221–246. doi:10.1111/j.1571-9979.2008.00182.x
  • Audiencia Nacional. (2018). Auto de procesamiento: Sumario No 5/2018. Administración de Justicia. https://e00-elmundo.uecdn.es/documentos/2018/10/09/auto_atentados.pdf
  • Bélanger, J. J., Caouette, J., Sharvit, K., & Dugas, M. (2014). The psychology of martyrdom: Making the ultimate sacrifice in the name of a cause. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(3), 494–515. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036855
  • Bélanger, J. J., Moyano, M., Muhammad, H., Richardson, L., Lafrenière, M.-A. K., McCaffery, P., Framand, K., & Nociti, N. (2019). Radicalization leading to violence: A test of the 3N model. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 42. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00042
  • Bélanger, J. J., Nociti, N., Chamberland, P., Paquette, V., Gagnon, D., Mahmoud, A., Carla, L., Lopes, M., & Eising, C (2015). Building a resilient community within a multicultural Canada: Information toolkit on violent extremism. Université du Québec à Montréal. Retrieved from http://trev.uqam.ca/itve/
  • Bélanger, J. J., Robbins, B. G., Muhammad, H., Moyano, M., Nisa, C. F., Schumpe, B. M., & Blaya-Burgo, M. (2020). Supporting political violence: The role of ideological passion and social network. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 23(8), 1187–1203. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430220933954
  • Campbell, A. (2005). “Taqiyya”: How Islamic extremists deceive the West. National Observer, 65, 11–23. https://search.informit.org/doi/pdf/10.3316/ielapa.959882607303811
  • Clemmow, C., Schumann, S., Salman, N. L., & Gill, P. (2020). The base rate study: Developing base rates for risk factors and indicators for engagement in violent extremism. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 65(3), 865–881. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14282
  • Dalgaard-Nielsen, A. (2010). Violent radicalization in Europe: What we know and what we do not know. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 33(9), 797–814. https://doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2010.501423
  • Dugas, M., Bélanger, J. J., Moyano, M., Schumpe, B. M., Kruglanski, A. W., Gelfand, M. J., Touchton-Leonard, K., & Nociti, N. (2016). The quest for significance motivates self-sacrifice. Motivation Science, 2(1), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000030
  • Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(1), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
  • Ganor, B. (2002). Defining terrorism: Is one man’s terrorist another man’s freedom fighter?. Police Practice and Research, 3(4), 287–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/1561426022000032060
  • Gómez, Á., & Vázquez, A. (2015). The power of ‘feeling one’ with a group: Identity fusion and extreme pro-group behaviours/El poder de ‘sentirse uno’ con un grupo: Fusión de la identidad y conductas progrupales extremas. Revista de Psicología Social, 30(3), 481–511. https://doi.org/10.1080/02134748.2015.1065089
  • González, I., Moyano, M., Lobato, R. M., & Trujillo, H. M. (2022). Evidence of psychological manipulation in the process of violent radicalization: An investigation of the 17-A cell. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 789051. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.789051
  • Hamid, N., & Ariza, C (2022). Offline versus online radicalisation: Which is the bigger threat? Global Network on Extremism & Technology. https://gnet-research.org/2022/02/21/offline-versus-online-radicalisation-which-is-the-bigger-threat/
  • Horgan, J. (2008). From profiles to pathways and roots to routes: Perspectives from psychology on radicalization into terrorism. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 618(1), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716208317539
  • Horgan, J. (2009). Walking away from terrorism: Accounts of disengagement from radical and extremist movements. Routledge.
  • Igualada, C. (2021). International links and the role of the Islamic State in the Barcelona and Cambrils attacks in 2017. Perspectives on Terrorism, 15(4), 65–75. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27044236
  • Irujo, J. M (2017, November 2). El imán aleccionó a los terroristas en la corriente más clandestina del salafismo. El País.
  • Janis, I. (1991). Groupthink. In E. Griffin (Ed.), A First Look at Communication Theory (pp. 235–246). McGrawHill.
  • Jasko, K., Webber, D., Kruglanski, A. W., Gelfand, M., Taufiqurrohman, M., Hettiarachchi, M., & Gunaratna, R. (2020). Social context moderates the effects of quest for significance on violent extremism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(6), 1165–1187. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000198
  • Khalil, J., Horgan, J., & Zeuthen, M. (2022). The Attitudes-Behaviors Corrective (ABC) model of violent extremism. Terrorism and Political Violence, 34(3), 425–450. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2019.1699793
  • King, M., & Taylor, D. M. (2011). The radicalization of homegrown jihadists: A review of theoretical models and social psychological evidence. Terrorism and Political Violence, 23(4), 602–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2011.587064
  • Kruglanski, A., Jasko, K., Webber, D., Chernikova, M., & Molinario, E. (2018). The making of violent extremists. Review of General Psychology, 22(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1037/gpr0000144
  • Kruglanski, A. W., Bélanger, J. J., Gelfand, M., Gunaratna, R., Hettiarachchi, M., Reinares, F., Orehek, E., Sasota, J., & Sharvit, K. (2013). Terrorism-A (self) love story: Redirecting the significance quest can end violence. The American Psychologist, 68(7), 559–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032615
  • Kruglanski, A. W., Bélanger, J. J., & Gunaratna, R. (2019). The three pillars of radicalization: Needs, narratives, and networks. Oxford University Press.
  • Kruglanski, A. W., Chen, X., Dechesne, M., Fishman, S., & Orehek, E. (2009). Fully committed: Suicide bombers’ motivation and the quest for personal significance. Political Psychology, 30(3), 331–357. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9221.2009.00698.x
  • Kruglanski, A. W., Gelfand, M. J., Bélanger, J. J., Hetiarachchi, M., & Gunaratna, R. (2015). Significance Quest Theory as the driver of radicalization towards terrorism. In J. Jerard & S. M. Nasir (Eds.), Communities against Terrorism (pp. 17–30). Imperial College Press. https://doi.org/10.1142/9781783267743_0002
  • Kruglanski, A. W., Gelfand, M. J., Bélanger, J. J., Sheveland, A., Hetiarachchi, M., & Gunaratna, R. (2014). The psychology of radicalization and deradicalization: How significance quest impacts violent extremism. Political Psychology, 35(S1), 69–93. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12163
  • Lobato, R. M. (2019). En busca de los extremos: Tres modelos para comprender la radicalización. Revista de Estudios en Seguridad Internacional, 5(2), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.18847/1.10.7
  • Lobato, R. M., Moya, M., Moyano, M., & Trujillo, H. M. (2018). From oppression to violence: The role of oppression, radicalism, identity, and cultural intelligence in violent disinhibition. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1505. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01505
  • Lobato, R. M., Moya, M., & Trujillo, H. M. (2020). Minority‐ versus majority‐status group intentions to transgress the law when oppression is perceived. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 20(1), 397–416. https://doi.org/10.1111/asap.12207
  • Lobato, R. M., Moyano, M., Bélanger, J. J., & Trujillo, H. M. (2021). The role of vulnerable environments in support for homegrown terrorism: Fieldwork using the 3N model. Aggressive Behavior, 47(1), 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21933
  • McCauley, C., & Moskalenko, S. (2008). Mechanisms of political radicalization: Pathways toward terrorism. Terrorism and Political Violence, 20(3), 415–433. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546550802073367
  • Moskalenko, S., & McCauley, C. (2009). Measuring political mobilization: The distinction between activism and radicalism. Terrorism and Political Violence, 21(2), 239–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546550902765508
  • Mossos d’Esquadra (2018). Diligencias policiales número 680566/2017. Comissaria Superior de Coordinació Central. https://es.scribd.com/document/420373419/Informe-18-12-18#download&from_embed
  • Moyano, M. (2019). Radicalización terrorista. Gestión del riesgo y modelos de intervención. Síntesis.
  • Moyano, M., Lobato, R. M., Bélanger, J. J., & Trujillo, H. M. (2021). Preventing and countering violent radicalization: A guide for first-line practitioners. Editorial Universidad de Córdoba.
  • Moyano, M., & Trujillo, H. M. (2013). Radicalización islamista y terrorismo. Claves psicosociales. Editorial Universidad de Granada.
  • Roy, O. (2017). Jihad and death: The global appeal of Islamic State. Oxford University Pres.
  • Saldaña, J. (2013). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. Sage.
  • Schmid, A. P. (2013). Radicalisation, de-radicalisation, counter-radicalisation: A conceptual discussion and literature review. International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague (ICCT). http://www.icct.nl/download/file/ICCT-Schmid-Radicalisation-De-Radicalisation-Counter-Radicalisation-March-2013.pdf
  • Schumpe, B. M., Bélanger, J. J., Moyano, M., & Nisa, C. F. (2020). The role of sensation seeking in political violence: An extension of the significance quest theory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 118(4), 743–761. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000223
  • Schuurman, B. (2019). Topics in terrorism research: Reviewing trends and gaps, 2007-2016. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 12(3), 463–480. doi:10.1080/17539153.2019.1579777
  • Schuurman, B. (2020). Research on terrorism, 2007–2016: A review of data, methods, and authorship. Terrorism and Political Violence, 32(5), 1011–1026. doi:10.1080/09546553.2018.1439023
  • Stephens, W., Sieckelinck, S., & Boutellier, H. (2021). Preventing violent extremism: A review of the literature. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 44(4), 346–361. doi:10.1080/1057610X.2018.1543144
  • Swann, W. B., Jetten, J., Gómez, Á., Whitehouse, H., & Bastian, B. (2012). When group membership gets personal: A theory of identity fusion. Psychological Review, 119(3), 441–456. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028589
  • Troian, J., Baidada, O., Arciszewski, T., Apostolidis, T., Celebi, E., & Yurtbakan, T. (2019). Evidence for indirect loss of significance effects on violent extremism: The potential mediating role of anomia. Aggressive Behavior, 45(6), 691–703. doi:10.1002/ab.21863
  • Trujillo, H. M., Alonso, F., Cuevas, J. M., & Moyano, M. (2018). Evidencias empíricas de manipulación y abuso psicológico en el proceso de adoctrinamiento y radicalización yihadista inducida. Revista de Estudios Sociales, 66(66), 42–54. doi:10.7440/res66.2018.05
  • Trujillo, H. M., & Moyano, M. (2019a). A psychosocial evidence-based approach to radicalization and terrorism. In I. Marrero & H. M. Trujillo (Eds.), Jihadism, foreign fighters and radicalisation in the European Union: Legal, functional and psychosocial responses (pp. 9–27). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Trujillo, H. M., & Moyano, M. (2019b). Towards the study and prevention of the recruitment of Jihadists in Europe: A comprehensive proposal. In I. Marrero & H. M. Trujillo (Eds.), Jihadism, foreign fighters and radicalisation in the European Union: Legal, functional and psychosocial responses (pp. 211–230). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
  • Ventura, Ó. P (2013). Takfir wal-Hijra, entre la doctrina radical y el terrorismo yihadista. Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos (IEEE). https://www.ieee.es/publicaciones-new/documentos-de-opinion/2013/DIEEEO03-2013.html
  • Webber, D., Babush, M., Schori-Eyal, N., Vazeou-Nieuwenhuis, A., Hettiarachchi, M., Bélanger, J. J., Moyano, M., Trujillo, H. M., Gunaratna, R., Kruglanski, A. W., & Gelfand, M. J. (2018). The road to extremism: Field and experimental evidence that significance loss-induced need for closure fosters radicalization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 114(2), 270–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000111
  • Webber, D., & Kruglanski, A. W. (2017). Psychological factors in radicalization: A “3N” approach. In G. LaFree & J. Freilic (Eds.), The handbook of the criminology of terrorism (pp. 33–46). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118923986.ch2
  • Wolfowicz, M., Litmanovitz, Y., Weisburd, D., & Hasisi, B. (2021). Cognitive and behavioral radicalization: A systematic review of the putative risk and protective factors. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 17(3), e1174. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1174