Exploring Factors that Facilitate Violent and Nonviolent Extremist Behavior

• In Event: Applying Conventional Criminological Findings to Extremist Populations: A Series of Studies by Incarcerated Researchers

Abstract

Research suggests there are key risk factors that facilitate offending. In addition, some studies suggest that specific factors may influence the presence of violence versus nonviolent offending. While these factors have been assessed with apolitical samples, their relationship with political offending has been underexplored. This qualitative study aims to address this question by examining factors that facilitate offending and nonviolent versus violent activities in an extremist sample. Using case study analysis, the authors assess the presence of key risk factors in a sample of twenty individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses in the United States and Canada. Results indicate that traditional risk factors are underrepresented in the extremist sample, potentially replaced in part by other factors that facilitate extremism, particularly violent extremism.

Authors

• David A. Cowan, University of Idaho

• Avery Slater, University of Idaho

• Omi Hodwitz, University of Idaho