CSSC researchers have been studying the causes of self-sacrifice in armed groups ranging from tribal warriors to modern armies and from revolutionary insurgents to suicide terrorists. One of the surprising findings of this work is that extreme self-sacrifice may not be motivated by religious beliefs (or in fact by any kind of ideology) but by a combination of two main factors – a distinctive form of group alignment known as ‘identity fusion’ combined with the conviction that the group is under threat. Fusion of personal and group identities may result from sharing transformative experiences with others. Such findings also point to ways of de-fusing violent extremists.
Making a difference
If suicide attackers are fused to the group through shared experiences then maybe we can influence the process of fusion as it occurs or develop ways of modifying the memories on which fusion depends. But our research with twins and other family members has shown that fusion is also driven by perceptions of shared biology. Indeed, the most common group for people to fuse with is close family members. Award-winning work at the CSSC is using these theories to prevent acts of violent extremism before it is too late.
CSSC director addresses the World Economic Forum at Davos on the need to understand cohesion to address radicalization
CSSC research is used to design BBC2 documentary on the role of ritual in bonding military groups
This is your brain on terrorism - Scott Atran on the science behind a death wish
Julia Ebner, CSSC DPhil candidate, spent two years infiltrating far-right networks - here she discusses fear, loathing and democracy in an age of disinformation
CSSC director (pictured with Lord John Alderdice and Dr Mustafa Ceric) attends a meeting with political and military leaders in Pune, India to discuss the causes of violent extremism
CSSC researchers meet with collaborators at Persada University, to discuss approaches to countering violent extremism with one of SE Asia’s previously most wanted Pakistani jihadis, Nasir Abbas
