Hate: The Drug of Choice for Violent Extremists

“Imagine your clenched fist cracking another person’s jaw. How does it feel?” — Chester & DeWall (2016)

This question opens the groundbreaking research paper which revealed an uncomfortable truth: hurting others can feel good. In fact, it can trigger the same brain circuits activated by addictive substances. For some individuals, this experience becomes not just a release but a compulsion.

At Parents for Peace, we see this every day. People often assume extremism is purely ideological, but what we encounter is more complicated — and more human. For many, hate becomes a behavioral addiction. It fills emotional voids, offers moments of power, and provides relief from a world in which they feel they don’t have purpose or don’t belong. 

What the Brain Tells Us About Aggression and Reward

Research shows that when people retaliate after being provoked, they activate the nucleus accumbens — the same reward center of the brain triggered by cocaine or alcohol (Chester & DeWall, 2016). This means aggressive behavior, especially when fueled by a sense of righteousness or revenge, can feel good.

While hate is not the same as aggression, the two are closely linked. Hate provides the emotional motive, and aggression becomes the rewarding behavioral outlet. Similar to any addictive substance: the more aggression is used, the more the brain learns to associate it with relief, and the more the cycle is reinforced.

Extremism as Behavioral Addiction

This cycle mirrors substance use:

• Craving: fueled by anger, trauma, or humiliation.

• Justification: provided by ideology.

• Acting out: through threats, violence, or hate speech.

• Relief: a temporary emotional “high.”

• Reinforcement: making the behavior more likely next time.

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Over time, this cycle gets wired into the brain, and breaking it takes more than just “letting it go.”

How We Disrupt the Cycle

At Parents for Peace, we approach violent extremism like addiction recovery. Our model is informed by the 12-step framework of Alcoholics Anonymous, especially in its use of peer mentorship and identity transformation.

Instead of a sponsor, our clients are guided by Exit Peer Specialists (individuals who were once part of extremist movements themselves). These mentors understand the emotional pull of hate because they’ve lived it. Former extremists are uniquely positioned to challenge narratives, build trust, and guide others out of extremism (Tapley & Clubb, 2019). 

The Path to Healing

When hate has been used as a coping mechanism, change isn’t just about rejecting beliefs—it’s about understanding why those beliefs once felt rewarding. We help individuals find healthier ways to meet those same emotional needs.

Exit Interventionists and Exit Peer Specialists guide people in rebuilding their lives through meaningful relationships, new interests, and a renewed sense of purpose. This way, they’re not just leaving something behind—they’re moving toward something better.

References

Chester, D. S., & DeWall, C. N. (2016). The pleasure of revenge: retaliatory aggression arises from a neural imbalance toward reward. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(7), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsw057

Tapley, M., & Clubb, G. (2019). The Role of Formers in Countering Violent Extremism (Policy Brief). International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague. https://icct.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/ICCT-Tapley-Clubb-The-Role-of-Formers-in-CVE-April2019.pdf