Causes and signs of radicalisation

Exploiting vulnerability

The following factors might contribute to a vulnerable person becoming radicalised:

• The need for a sense of belonging
• Bereavement
• Looking for a cause or reward
• Mental health
• Isolation
• A sense of injustice or grievance
• Access to extremist material online
• A desire for power, respect or status
• Bullying
• Drug or alcohol misuse

Changes in behaviour or appearance

Radicalisation may be accompanied by sudden or gradual changes to a person's behaviour or appearance. This may include some of the following:

• Changes in mood, patterns of behaviour or being secretive
• Possession of violent extremist literature or use of inappropriate language or speech
• Expression of extremist views or sympathy with extremist causes
• Seeking to engage or recruit others to support extremist ideologies, extreme groups, social media groups or marches
• Preaching or attempting to impose their views on others
• Isolating themselves from family and friends
• Outbursts of anger
• Change in language or use of words
• Fixation on a new subject or person or violence fascination

Safeguarding

Those vulnerable to radicalisation deserve to be safeguarded. 

Whilst a single factor could be enough to cause someone to become radicalised or to support terrorism, being subjected to a combination of the recognised risk factors can often create the perfect conditions for radicalisation to occur.

There is no single profile of what an extremist might look like or what it is that might cause someone to become radicalised.

Those involved in extremist activity can come from a range of backgrounds with different life experiences - the reasons for becoming radicalised will be unique to them and may take place over an extended period or happen within a very short time frame.