Understanding Political Radicalization: The Two-Pyramids Model

Authors

Clark R. McCauley, Bryn Mawr CollegeFollow
Sophia Moskalenko

Document Type

Article

Version

Author's Final Manuscript

Publication Title

American Psychologist

Volume

72

Publication Date

4-2017

Abstract

This article reviews some of the milestones of thinking about political radicalization, as scholars and security officials struggled after 9/11 to discern the precursors of terrorist violence. Recent criticism of the concept of radicalization has been recognized, leading to a 2-pyramids model that responds to the criticism by separating radicalization of opinion from radicalization of action. Security and research implications of the 2-pyramids model are briefly described, ending with a call for more attention to emotional experience in understanding both radicalization of opinion and radicalization of action.

Publisher's Statement

© American Psychological Association, 2017. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: http://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000062.

Citation

McCauley, Clark and Sophia Moskalenko. 2017. Understanding Political Radicalization: The Two-Pyramids Model America Psychologist 72.3: 205-216.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000062