Application of the Susceptible Circle Typology for Adopting Misleading Narrative Beliefs

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Initially based on the work of Thoroughgood et al. (2012), we propose expanding their susceptible circle; a taxonomy of potential followers vulnerable to manipulation by destructive leaders. In our framework, we apply the taxonomy to apply to the susceptibility to misleading narratives. We build on our prior application of the susceptible circle framework focusing on Boogaloo Bois to advance an interdisciplinary understanding of pathways leading to radicalization and ideological violence through the breakdown of individual predispositions, contextual factors, cognitive biases, potential triggers, and motives to assess risk for adoption of potentially dangerous extremist beliefs.

Authors

• Colleen Sinclair, Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center

• Andrew Robert Burns, Louisiana State University, Social Research and Evaluation Center