Alienation Through Psychological Neglect: When Deprivation of Individual Psychological Needs Leads to Societal Harm.

This article seeks to build upon Ryan and Deci's self-determination theory and shows how continual neglect of an individual's psychological need for autonomy, competency, and relatedness increases their susceptibility to terrorist organizations recruiting tactics. It begins by establishing how fulfillment of these psychological needs is necessary for normal human functioning. It then explains how failing to meet these needs pushes an individual away from normal social interactions; placing them at odds with a world which they are unable to integrate with. Once sufficiently excluded from normal social functioning, the individual is highly susceptible to the promise of belonging, power, and self-realization that terror organization offers in their recruitment. The individual will begin to alter their belief systems and entirely cut themselves off from their previous lives; eventually losing themselves in a new identity which is interconnected to their terror group. The article concludes with reflections on how future research of this process can have a meaningful impact on curtailing terrorism in the United States. Public Significance Statement: Terrorism is a persistent international threat, and it presents a clear danger to societal well-being. This article illustrates how neglect of psychological needs facilitates the radicalization process for terror organizations; and in turn, places an individual at odds with the social world that they were raised in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]