This paper examines radicalisation into violent extremism through the lens of social cognition and moral disengagement. First, the results of a series of original empirical studies examining the impact of justifications for ‘terrorist attacks’ on attitudes towards violent extremism, and willingness to support violent extremists, are presented. These studies suggest that exposure to subtle justifications for violence can lead to greater acceptance of the legitimacy of such actions, but that individual differences, such as moral traits, can help understand how some individuals are resilient to such messages.
Second, the paper considers the use of social cognitive theory in both explaining and responding to radicalisation into violent extremism. The relationship between so-called ‘root causes’ of terrorism and the process of radicalisation is set within the social cognitive approach, and the potential for social cognitive interventions to inform counter-radicalisation practice is discussed.
