Other Theories of Radicalization

This chapter contains a review of major prior theories of radicalization that adopt sociological, political science, or psychiatric perspectives. The chapter then compares the previous theories with the authors’ 3N theory, which posits that radicalization occurs due to a convergence of individuals’ needs, the narrative to which they are exposed, and the networks in which they are embedded. A comparative analysis reveals that those previous conceptualizations do not actually constitute rival alternatives to the 3N model but rather address some of its specific features. In this sense, the 3N model constitutes an integration of prior psychological proposals concerning the nature of radicalization; it depicts the general psychological factors underlying radicalization of which prior theories and conceptualization are specific cases.