A temporal analysis of moral, psychological and social factors in the rhetoric of far-right and violent jihadi extremists Dr Stephen Herron (Queen’s University Belfast) [Co-authors: Dr Weeda Mehran (University of Exeter) & Dr Ben Miller (University of Emory)] Abstract: Research indicates both similarities and differences in the rhetoric employed by far-right and violent jihadi extremists. This paper employs a mixed method approach, utilising natural language processing and linguistic analysis alongside qualitative content analysis, to investigate shifts in selected far-right and jihadi extremist English material over time. Our analysis draws from a data corpus comparting more than 3,000,000 words secured from eight selected far-right groups (American Renaissance, Britain First, Heritage and Destiney, Daily Stormer, and Front Page Magazine) and jihadi extremists such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Tahrik-e Taliban Pakistan. We assess inter-group differences along linguistic dimensions such as moral foundations and psychological and social processes. The findings reveal that while over time, the salience of psychological or social processes undergoes changes for both violent jihadi and far-right extremists, the moral foundations that underpin their world views, values and aims remain consistent and unchanged. Impact of the Eco-System of Extremist Violence and Its Potential Application to Online Radicalisation Dr Sören Henrich (Manchester Metropolitan University) [Co-authors: Prof Jane L. Ireland (University of Central Lancashire), Dr Michael Lewis (University of Central Lancashire) & Dr Carol Ireland (University of Central Lancashire)] Abstract: Modern counterterrorism research has made significant advancements in understanding factors present during the radicalisation process. However, the relevance of contributing and mitigating influence to the risk of extremist violence is less understood. A multi-study by the lead author explored radicalisation dynamics via expert consensus, discourse analysis of interviews with radicalised offenders, and 74 clinical case files. The research project resulted in the psychological formulation approach Eco-System of Extremist Violence (ES-EV). The ES-EV emphasises the maladaptive exchange between self-identity and group identity, likely informed by offence-related personality styles and observable through prevalent narratives. As the first conceptual model in high-secure forensic settings, it guides prevention, risk management, and care pathway planning guidance for the arguably more extreme end of the spectrum. Hence, in the recent impact study, 59 practitioners were trained on the ES-EV, including psychologists and PREVENT officers beyond the high-secure setting. Quantitative indicators of the model’s utility will be presented, such as interrater reliability and pre-and post-test confidence ratings. Qualitative responses indicate excellent face validity and possible application in the cybersecurity context. Furthermore, the lead author will utilise the ES-EV to hypothesise about the mechanisms of online radicalisation, bringing empirical evidence and the wider counterterrorism literature together.
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