UNDERSTANDING EXTREMIST RECRUITMENT: LENSES OF PROTECTION, LURING THE LOST, AND PROMISED BELONGING

Abstract

This study examine the effect of individuals' attitudes toward extremist groups, their own behaviors, and their daily exposure to hate speech. A quantitative survey method is  used and collected data from a total of 141 participants. The average age of the respondents is 35.5 years old, and the male-to-female ratio is nearly balanced: 54% are male and 46% are female. Participants spend an average of 3.2 hours per day using the general internet, and 3.6 hours per day on social media platforms—time spent on social platforms is even longer. In terms of educational background, nearly half of the participants hold a bachelor's degree, another 25% have completed high school. This survey was distributed via social platforms and Google Forms. The questions in the questionnaire were designed using a Likert scale, offers space to select the degree of agreement, such as strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree. Data analyzed using SPSS.

The ANOVA for the regression model was significant (F = 26.346, α = 0.000), which shows that attitudes, behavior, and exposure to hate speech significantly impact how much people are attracted to extremist groups. Both attitudes and exposure to hate speech were strong positive predictors with high statistical significance (p <.001 and p =.018, respectively). The zero-order correlation for attitudes (r =.582) shows a strong, direct link to attraction. Furthermore, partial and part correlations demonstrate how much attitudes contribute to the model even when other variables are accounted for. Similarly, exposure to hate speech showed a significant zero-order correlation (r =.399) and a significant partial correlation effect. The study confirmed that an individual's ideological orientation and exposure to hate speech are primary drivers in developing favorable attitudes toward extremism. Furthermore, individual behaviors were not significant predictors, indicating a more complex relationship. The research advocates for targeted educational programs and policy measures, tailored to Qatar's cultural context, to guide responsible online behavior and reduce extremist recruitment. This approach aims to effectively curb the influence of extremist ideologies.