A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE EFFICACY OF NARRATIVE CONSTRUCTS AS A COUNTERMEASURE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of counter-narratives on reducing the likelihood of individuals becoming violently radicalised. It involved a randomized controlled trial, and the results of this trial are presented in the study. The primary objectives of the research were to contribute to the counter-narrative theory and demonstrate the significance of experimental methods in this field of study. There were two alternative approaches to narrating terrorist acts, diverging from the existing story. Before assigning each of the 150 participants to one of the three conditions, they underwent a cognitive reflection test to determine their level of cognitive reflection and their ability to perform it. The participants were presented with three different types of stories: one that provided a justification for terrorist violence, one of two counter-stories that presented alternative perspectives, and a control story. Instead of providing generic counter-narratives, it has been discovered that it is more effective to equip the target with the necessary tools to develop their own counter-narratives. The findings of the experiment indicate that narratives containing violence and terrorism have the potential to impact individuals in various manners. Although measuring constructs related to violent radicalization can be challenging and has its limitations, it remains an important task.
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