Young people are blessed with an openness that can drive positive change – think about the civil rights movement. However, this openness can also be exploited by extremist groups who offer a deceptive sense of identity, community, power and purpose—turning them on destructive paths that alienate them from their community, subject them to rigid rules, and blind them to the consequences of their actions.
Extremist ideologies and movements draw their power by connecting with our desire for identity, belonging, community, purpose, and the need to be in control of our lives. Additionally, they weaponize powerful emotions such as anger, outrage, and disgust to bolster their appeal.
Radicalization often starts when someone is searching for identity, purpose, or belonging. They may encounter extremist ideas through social media, friends, or influential figures. These ideas can seem to offer clear answers and a sense of community.
As they get more involved, their beliefs and behaviors can become more extreme:
Radicalization transcends racial, religious, and political boundaries – similar to other public health concerns such as substance abuse disorder or viral diseases.
However, it does favor the young. Research has shown that the neocortex, the part of the brain in charge of reasoning and regulating emotions, doesn’t fully develop until the mid-20s. This is also the age when the urge to seek identity, community, and purpose is most acutely felt, and the potential for exploitation by extremist groups is highest. Over 60% of young people exposed to extremist ideologies online are under the age of 24 (National Institute of Justice).
In addition, isolation, trauma, and some neurological disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) may make some individuals more susceptible to recruitment.
No. Our society values freedom of expression and diversity of beliefs. This is to ensure that we can live peacefully while protecting our individual rights and freedoms.
However, not all legally protected extreme expressions are benign or healthy. Some can evolve into illegal, harmful, and even deadly actions.
This was a harsh lesson that the founding families of Parents for Peace had to learn on their own. Rather than retreat in shame and guilt, these families came together to build Parents for Peace as a confidential non-partisan resource to help ensure no other families experienced the same pain.
Extreme beliefs or behaviors are those that deviate significantly from mainstream beliefs and norms. They often include rigid, dogmatic views and an intolerance for different perspectives. Key characteristics include:
Extreme beliefs are not confined to any single political party, religion, or ethnicity. They can manifest in various forms, including:
Parents for Peace (P4P) runs the nation’s first and only free & confidential intervention helpline. We help Families understand and address a loved one’s attraction to extreme beliefs and behaviors. Call us at 844-49-PEACE (844-497-3223) or email us at help@parents4peace.org. We take a non-partisan, public health approach and implement strict data protection and confidentiality protocols.
We are not a crisis line. In case of emergency, contact 911 or 988 immediately.
Parents for Peace (P4P) empowers families to build resilience against extreme beliefs and behaviors, as a public health issue. By partnering with educators, we aim to provide the knowledge and tools needed to identify and counteract extremist influences, ensuring safe learning environments for all.
Once the lead singer of a Neo-Nazi metal band, Arno’s life took a dramatic turn with the birth of his daughter, leading him from hate to hope. Today, as a speaker, filmmaker, and author of My Life After Hate and co-author of The Gift of Our Wounds, Arno uses his narrative to encourage empathy and understanding. His work at Parents for Peace focuses on helping individuals reject violence by seeing themselves in others and finding common humanity. Learn about the rest of our team here.
