ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54208/0003 27
quo. Isolation appears to be a key in both types of
recruitment (Banisadr, 2009 Davis, 2018 Kent, 2008
Rodriguez- Carballeira et al., 2010 Stein, 2017a).
Recruiters use similar social conditioning methods to
manipulate potential recruits into converts. Recently,
we have also seen more emphasis placed on recruitment
methods using social media (Langone, 2021).
When individuals are more willing to participate by
choice, then they make conscious efforts to find out
more about cults or terror organizations. Sageman
(2008) and others believe that recruits make further
choices to be part of a terror organization. Although
that may be true in some instances, the process involves
more than just self-selection (Banisadr, 2009).
Many recruitment models for both cults and terror
groups tend to follow similar gradient patterns. For
example, the Contract- Indoctrination-Conversion
model (Zimbardo &Hartley, 1985) mirrors the stages
identified in the Silber and Bhatt (2007) terrorism
model. An individual is attracted to the organization,
goes through a conversion process, and becomes
accultured in the organization (Langone, 2019b).
A number of terror organizations have religious
foundations, so the terms cults and terror organizations
often are interchangeable (Conway, 2015).
Likewise, because the recruitment process for terror
organizations is often similar to that process for cults,
terrorism researchers can benefit by gaining a better
understanding of cult- recruitment processes.
References
Banisadr, M. (2009). Terrorist Organizations Are
Cults. Cultic Studies Review, 8(2), 30.
Benscoter, D. (2013). Shoes of a servant. Salient
Publishing Group.
Bhui, K. S., Hicks, M. H., Lashley, M., &Jones, E.
(2012). A public health approach
to understanding and preventing violent
radicalization. BMC Medicine, 10(1), 16.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-10-16
Borum, R. (2004). Psychology of Terrorism.
University of South Florida.
Borum, R. (2011a). Radicalization into Violent
Extremism I: A Review of Social Science
Theories. Journal of Strategic Security, 4(4),
7–36. https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.4.4.1
Borum, R. (2011b). Radicalization into Violent
Extremism II: A Review of Conceptual Models
and Empirical Research. Journal of Strategic
Security, 4(4), 37–62.
https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.4.4.2
Bouhana, N., Corner, E., Gill, P., &Schuurman, B.
(2018). Background and Preparatory
Behaviours of Extremist Lone Actors: A
Comparative Study. Perspectives on Terrorism,
12(6), 15.
Carus, W. S. (2000). The Rajneeshees (1984). In J. B.
Tucker (Ed.), Toxic terror: Assessing terrorist
use of chemical and biological weapons.
MIT Press.
Challacombe, D. J. (2004). Exploring religious cults
that ended in tragedy: Principles of social
influence. Journal of Psychological Inquiry,
10(1), 29–33.
Challacombe, D. J. (2019). Fatal redemption schemes:
A theoretical sovereign citizen radicalization
framework.
quo. Isolation appears to be a key in both types of
recruitment (Banisadr, 2009 Davis, 2018 Kent, 2008
Rodriguez- Carballeira et al., 2010 Stein, 2017a).
Recruiters use similar social conditioning methods to
manipulate potential recruits into converts. Recently,
we have also seen more emphasis placed on recruitment
methods using social media (Langone, 2021).
When individuals are more willing to participate by
choice, then they make conscious efforts to find out
more about cults or terror organizations. Sageman
(2008) and others believe that recruits make further
choices to be part of a terror organization. Although
that may be true in some instances, the process involves
more than just self-selection (Banisadr, 2009).
Many recruitment models for both cults and terror
groups tend to follow similar gradient patterns. For
example, the Contract- Indoctrination-Conversion
model (Zimbardo &Hartley, 1985) mirrors the stages
identified in the Silber and Bhatt (2007) terrorism
model. An individual is attracted to the organization,
goes through a conversion process, and becomes
accultured in the organization (Langone, 2019b).
A number of terror organizations have religious
foundations, so the terms cults and terror organizations
often are interchangeable (Conway, 2015).
Likewise, because the recruitment process for terror
organizations is often similar to that process for cults,
terrorism researchers can benefit by gaining a better
understanding of cult- recruitment processes.
References
Banisadr, M. (2009). Terrorist Organizations Are
Cults. Cultic Studies Review, 8(2), 30.
Benscoter, D. (2013). Shoes of a servant. Salient
Publishing Group.
Bhui, K. S., Hicks, M. H., Lashley, M., &Jones, E.
(2012). A public health approach
to understanding and preventing violent
radicalization. BMC Medicine, 10(1), 16.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-10-16
Borum, R. (2004). Psychology of Terrorism.
University of South Florida.
Borum, R. (2011a). Radicalization into Violent
Extremism I: A Review of Social Science
Theories. Journal of Strategic Security, 4(4),
7–36. https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.4.4.1
Borum, R. (2011b). Radicalization into Violent
Extremism II: A Review of Conceptual Models
and Empirical Research. Journal of Strategic
Security, 4(4), 37–62.
https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.4.4.2
Bouhana, N., Corner, E., Gill, P., &Schuurman, B.
(2018). Background and Preparatory
Behaviours of Extremist Lone Actors: A
Comparative Study. Perspectives on Terrorism,
12(6), 15.
Carus, W. S. (2000). The Rajneeshees (1984). In J. B.
Tucker (Ed.), Toxic terror: Assessing terrorist
use of chemical and biological weapons.
MIT Press.
Challacombe, D. J. (2004). Exploring religious cults
that ended in tragedy: Principles of social
influence. Journal of Psychological Inquiry,
10(1), 29–33.
Challacombe, D. J. (2019). Fatal redemption schemes:
A theoretical sovereign citizen radicalization
framework.
