Thereareriskfactorsandcommonthreadsthough: recruitsareoftenmotivatedtojointerroristgroupsbecausetheyfeelalienatedordisenfranchised, ortheythinkthey'rethevictimsof a socialinjustice.
PsychologistSteveTaylorfromLeedsBeckettUniversityintheUKwritesthatit’s oftenadolescentmenwhoaredrawntothislife, becausethey’reat a pointwhentheyarelookingfor a senseofbelongingandpurpose.
Dr. Clark R. McCauley, directorfortheSolomonAschCenterforStudyofEthnopoliticalConflictatBrynMawrCollege, pointsout, modernmilitariesusethesametechniquesbystrippingsoldiersofindividualityandplacingthegoalsofthegroupfirst.
Horganagreeswiththisassessment, sayingthatyoungconvertsaremoresusceptibletorecruitersbecausetheylack a deeperreligiousknowledgethatwouldhelpthemrejectextremistarguments.
Eventhoughthereare a lotofpathspeopletaketojoin a grouplikeISIS, forsomereasonanunusuallyhighnumbercomefromonetowninBelgium. LisetteexplainswhyoveronSeekerDaily.
AmongallEuropeannations, BelgiumisresponsibleforthehighestnumberofrecruitspercapitatohavelefttofightinSyriaandIraq, sothereissomewaytotheargumentthatBelgiumis a terroristhotbed.