Studying Psychology at Salford
Dr Linda Dubrow-Marshall Dr Rod Dubrow-Marshall Programme Leaders, MSc Psychology of Coercive Control
Defining radicalisation and extremism…. • Extremist groups or radical groups • Extremism and radicalisation relative to frame of reference – polarised positions • Terrorist groups • Cults or Sects • New religious movements • Totalistic Identity • Research on the psychology of extremism • Coercive Control • Social Media and Coercion • Areas of work 3
A definition of extremist groups or cults or sects including terrorist groups – a continuum of influence (1985 International Cultic Studies Association (AFF)) “A group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it…), designed to advance the goals of the group’s leaders, to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community .” 4
We sadly live in an era of terrorist attacks…. Rise of so called ‘lone wolf’ attacks… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCTVNuSan84 5
A polarised belief system (from research on left political groups) – showing how a different lived reality exists for members of extremist groups…. Communists Socialists Conservatives Fascists Frame of Reference is Distorted Cult Norms and Beliefs occupy a Polarised position Tories AWL RCP ISG LLB Left Labour Fascists Labour Frame of Reference is Distorted Cult Norms and Beliefs occupy a Polarised position 6
Growth of the far right… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7Azq4iaMk
8 The rise of the ‘alt right’…. Demonstration in LA against Steve Bannon Richard B Spencer (L) is president of the white nationalist think-tank National Policy Institute. David Duke (R) is the former 'imperial wizard' of white supremacy group Ku Klux Klan. Source: Crowcroft & Palumbo (2016) International Business Times Photo: Richard B Spencer/Reuters
Familiar faces?
A Quote: “When you meet the friendliest people you have ever known, who introduce you to the most loving group of people you’ve ever encountered and you find the leader to be the most inspired, caring and compassionate and understanding person you’ve ever met, and then you learn that the cause of the group is something you never dared hope could be accomplished and all of this sounds too good to be true – it probably is too good to be true! Don’t give up your education, your hopes and ambitions to follow a rainbow.” By Jeannie Mills Ex-member of The Peoples Temple – late found murdered.
Variety of types of extremist groups or cults… (after Singer 2003) • Neo-Christian religious • Hindu and Eastern religious • Occult, witchcraft and Satanist • Spiritualist • Zen and other Sin-Japanese philosophical-mystical • Racial/ethnic/cultural • Flying saucer and other outer- space phenomena (‘ Sci Fi cults’) • Psychology or psychotherapeutic • Political (including terrorist groups) • Self-help, self-improvement and life-style systems • Business cults 11
Variety is the key issue: • Influence is on a continuum – in every organisation • Size • Number of countries – homogeneity • Evangelistic/recruiting • Extent of control/harm Who joins? • It could be you…! • Stereotypes – young single student • E.g. of cult on west coast recruited rich elderly people • Children growing up • Psychological effects vary 12
Marshall Applewhite and Heavens Gate…. On March 26, 1997, police found the bodies of 39 Heaven’s Gate members who had committed suicide believing that the Hale-Bopp comet was a sign they should leave Earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh35j2S68DQ
Abuse and harm in religious based groups Faith Tabernacle Congregation In Pennsylvania USA - Refusal of medical care - Cases currently in the courts Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints - Ervin Le Baron - Murdering in the name of God - Ron and Don Lafferty - Jon Krakauer – "Under the banner of heaven" 14
Totalistic Identity – unhealthy and abnormal cognitive functioning Dubrow-Marshall (2010) Self- Categorization becomes stuck at one place in a person’s cognitive repertoire which dominates to subjugation and exclusion of others The extremist group identity fills and/or increases a huge existential need for belonging and meaning in cognitive terms (a cognitive void) Superordinate Level Human Beings Group or Basic Level of Extremist Categorization (Rosch 1978) Group Personal Level of Mother/Father Categorization Personal preferences/goals 15
Example of Totalistic identity or ‘brainwashing’ Shamima Begum – ISIS/Daesh https: //ww w.you tube.c om/w atch?v =EWcJ HxmX D1Q 16
Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) – Stockholm Syndrome • Kidnap victim turned terrorist member….? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsWYFsRHuSA 17
Thought reform in extremist groups…. Robert J. Lifton’s eight themes of ‘thought reform’ (from work on ‘Chinese Thought Reform’ and more recently on Aum Shinrikyo cult) • Milieu Control • Loading the language • Demand for purity • Confession • Mystical Manipulation • Doctrine over person • Sacred science • Dispensing of existence 18
‘Dispensing of existence’…. Research and practice on the psychology of extremism seeks to understand: • The causes of extremism • The psychological changes • How to prevent radicalisation and how to help people exit extremist groups • Recovery and rehabilitation 19
Coercive Control Serious Crime Act (2015) Section 76 – The Offence of Controlling and Coercive Behaviour Aim of “The offence is to close a gap in the law around occurs during a relationship between intimate partners, former partners who still live together or family members” “This offence sends a clear message that this form of domestic abuse can constitute a serious offence particularly in light of the violation of trust that it represents and will provide a better protection to victims experiencing repeated or continuous abuse” 20
Sally Challen – recent landmark case Evan Stark https://www.independent.co. uk/voices/sally-challen-case- appeal-murder-david- husband-domestic-violence- a8804276.html (From Press Conference) https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=d_dg6s6ZhS0 (David Challen on Good Morning Britain) 21
Social Media and Coercion - Case Study • Molly Russell case – coercion leading to suicide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3x1yT59uyo 22
Areas of work on extremism…. • Psychology of extremism/radicalisation • Political Psychology • Terrorism Studies – Psychology of Terrorism • Global strategies for peace and reconciliation • Military research • Policies and practice to reduce indoctrination and radicalisation (e.g. Prevent and alternatives from other countries) • Extremist Influence via the internet • Role of religion and belief • Child safety and ‘safeguarding’ • Education policy e.g. critical thinking • History of religion/politics/conflict 23
For after your Undergraduate Degree… The ONLY Masters course in the world on the Psychology of Coercive C ontrol is here at Salford! The Course covers coercive control and abuse in: • Domestic relationships • Cults/Extremist groups • Trafficking • Gangs And offers clear pathways to working in these areas on prevention and recovery 24
Thank you for listening! 25
Here are the email addresses for questions to the programme leaders: • Linda Dubrow-Marshall (head of psychology) • Ben Short b.short@salford.ac.uk (psychology single honours) • Anne Pearson a.pearson1@salford.ac.uk (psych & counselling) • Lorna Paterson l.paterson@salford.ac.uk (psych & criminology) • Ailsa Parsons a.s.parsons@salford.ac.uk (psych of sport) • Greg Keenan g.s.keenan@salford.ac.uk (psych of human and animal behaviour • Amy Bidgood a.bidgood@salford.ac.uk (psych with English language)
To see what other presentations are available today, please go back to our event hub
Recommend
More recommend
