Extreme Islamist and anti-extremist Muslims: identity processes assessed by Identity Structure Analysis

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Extreme Islamist and anti-extremist Muslims
identity processes assessed by Identity Structure
Analysis

• Peter Weinreich
• Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of
  Ulster
• Director, Identity Exploration Ltd
• www.identityexploration.com
• Seminar
• Centre for Research in Political Psychology
• Queens University Belfast
• Tuesday 2 March 2010

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What is Identity Structure Analysis (ISA)?

• ISAs substantive arena of discourse Self and
  Identity
• It is an open-ended conceptual framework of
• (a) psychological concepts and
• (b) process postulates
• that represents an integration of key theoretical
  formulations from the academic disciplines of
  Psychology, Sociology and Social Anthropology.

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Key theoretical formulations

• Psychodynamic approach identity over the
  lifespan through identifications (Erikson,
  Marcia, Laing, Berne)
• Symbolic interactionism identity through
  communication (Mead, Cooley, Sullivan, Stryker,
  Weigert, Goffman, Shotter Gergen)
• Self-concept, social identity and self-esteem
  identity through society (Rosenberg,
  Coopersmith, Harter, Tajfel, Turner, Hogg
  Abrams)
• Construal and appraisal identity by way of
  idiosyncratic personal constructions (G.A.Kelly,
  Arnold, Lazarus, Schweder)
• Cognitive-affective consistency theory identity
  subject to emotional and cognitive pressures
  (Heider, Osgood Tannenbaum, Rosenberg
  Abelson, Festinger, Wickland Brehm, Aronson)
• Social anthropology and indigenous psychologies
  identity located in cultural context (Schweder,
  Pasternack, Ember Ember, Valsiner)
• The fundamental issue of agency Rom Harré
  the agentic self

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Key theoretical formulations

• Reference
• The theoretical perspectives that underpin ISA,
  together with the definitions of psychological
  concepts and statements of process postulates are
  to be found in
• Weinreich, P. (2003) Identity structure
  Analysis.
• In Weinreich, P., Saunderson, W. (Eds.)
  Analysing Identity Cross-Cultural, Societal and
  Clinical Contexts. London Routledge Psychology
  Press. Chapter 1.

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The processes of identification

• People identify with elements of significant
  others who have influence over their personal
  well-being, either for good or ill.
• They form aspirational identifications with
  others when they wish to
• emulate their prized features
• or
• dissociate from their unpalatable aspects.

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Aspirational identification in two aspects

• They form idealistic-identifications with others
  when they wish to emulate their prized features.
• They form contra-identifications with others when
  they wish to dissociate from their unpalatable
  aspects.

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The processes of identification

• a different mode in the here and now
• People empathetically identify with others when
  they recognise in the others features of
  themselves, whether good or bad.
• a persons empathetic identification with
  another modulates according to situations,
  contexts and mood states

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Conflicted identifications

• When self empathetically identifies with another
  person while simultaneously contra-identifying
  with that person, selfs identification with the
  other is conflicted.
• I.e., Self is as the other in several respects,
  while wishing to dissociate from some of the
  characteristics of the other - to be as the
  other, while not wishing to be
• Since peoples empathetic identification with
  others modulate according to situations, contexts
  and mood states, so will their conflicted
  identifications alter accordingly

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Identity diffusion

• Peoples conflicted identifications with others
  may be dispersed across several persons.
• A state of high identity diffusion is manifest
  when selfs conflicted identifications with
  others are both substantial and dispersed across
  many others.
• extent of identity diffusion may also modulate
  according to situations, contexts and mood
  states.

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How is the ISA conceptual framework
operationalised?

• Psychological definitions
• Algorithms
• Computer software
• Identity instrument editor
• Instrument display and data
  capture
• Data analysis and output

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Identity Structure Analysis is operationalised
through

• the ipseus computer software
• in these modes
• Idiographic for individual analyses
• Phase for longitudinal analyses
• Nomothetic for group analyses
• Nomothetic-phase for group longitudinal analyses

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Customised identity instrument themes and
constructs

• Preliminary investigative and ethnographic work
  establishes salient themes to be represented in
  the identity instrument as
• Bipolar constructs, consisting of contrasting
  discourses about, or representations of,
  experiences and expectations, beliefs and values,
  attributes, etc.
• Their role as core or conflicted dimensions of
  identity for each person is ascertained using the
  ipseus software

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Customised identity instrument domains and
entities

• Continuing investigative and ethnographic work
  establishes the domains of most relevance to the
  delineated themes to be the represented in the
  identity instrument as
• Entities self in various contexts other
  agents, such as people, groups, institutions,
  emblems, icons, images, events, abstractions,
  material objects, etc
• Their significance in terms of themes and
  appraisal in terms of the bipolar constructs is
  assessed for each person using the ipseus
  software

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Customised identity instrument as a matrix of
entities and constructs

• E.g.,
• Entities my best friend my Member of
  Parliament
• Construct discourse about trust
• can be trusted cant be
  trusted
• 9 point scale 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4
• Would you place your best friend at the same
  place on the scale as your Member of Parliament?
• The text and syntax of the instrument is
  formulated using the ipseus software editor and
  displayed on screen for the participants
  appraisal of self and the social world

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The operationalisation of Identity Structure
Analysis

• References
• The isomorphic translations of ISA psychological
  concepts into algorithms and their practical
  operationalisation
• Weinreich, P. (2003) Identity exploration
  Theory into practice.
• In Weinreich, P., Saunderson, W. (Eds.)
  Analysing Identity Clinical, Societal and
  Cross-Cultural Contexts London Routledge
  Psychology Press. Chapter 2.
• Dedicated computer software for facilitating ISA
• Weinreich, P., Ewart, S. (2008) Ipseus.
  www.identityexploration.com

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Investigation of Islamist propensities in
disaffected young Muslims in Manchester

• Home Office rubric Prevention of Violent
  Extremism
• Screening criteria
• Mentoring
• The issue of screening a segment of the
  population is a controversial activity
• Comparative study is essential
• Appraisals of self, other people and agents in
  the community should be from the participants
  perspectives, not ones imposed by the
  investigators

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Four themes to be investigated

• Theme 1 Civics
• Subthemes
• 1.1 Sharia law Radical tendency favour Sharia
  over British law
• 1.2 Human rights Radical tendency favour
  Islamic code over universal (western) Human
  Rights
• 1.3 Free-speech Radical tendency less than
  wholesale endorsement
• 1.4 Fighting and dying for a cause Radical
  tendency preference for this rather than
  national army

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Four themes to be investigated

• Theme 2 British Muslims in the context of
  British society
• Subthemes
• 2.1 Racism Radical tendency habitual
  experience of racism
• 2.2 Societal consequence of identity in Britain
  Radical tendency victimisation because of ones
  identity
• 2.3 Morality of the British Radical tendency
  British immoral
• 2.4 Impact of British foreign policy on Muslims
  in Britain Radical tendency British foreign
  policy desecrates Muslims
• 2.5 Trustworthiness Radical tendency distrust
  of Government, police and media

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Four themes to be investigated

• Theme 3 Sensibility of Islamic culture
• Subthemes
• 3.1 Muslim belongingness as local or global
  Radical tendency global
• 3.2 Continuity of Islamic culture Radical
  tendency - contradicts key aspects of Islam
• 3.3 Respect for Islam Radical tendency makes
  Islam respected
• 3.4 Respect of others by Muslims Radical
  tendency disrespect of British ethnicities and
  institutions
• 3.5 Alternative expressions of Islamic faith
  Radical tendency adoption of alternative
  militant expressions

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Four themes to be investigated

• Theme 4 The individual living in the social
  world civil society (4 bipolar constructs)
• Subthemes
• 4.1 Meaningfulness of existence Potential for
  radicalisation self having no centre
• 4.2 Being noticed or not Potential for
  radicalisation self not being noticed
• 4.3 Ability to influence others Potential for
  radicalisation self not having any influence
• 4.4 Susceptibility to radical influence radical
  tendency susceptible

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Identity instrument Relevant domains for the
themes

• Domain 1 Self (7 entities those aspects
  indicated by are mandatory for ISA)
• Two aspirational self-images (positive and
  negative)
• Me as I would like to be
• Me as I would hate to be
• Two current self-images
• Me when I am with people of the same
  ethnic/religious background
• Me when I am with people from the mainstream
  community
• One past self-image
• Me as I was before the 7th July London
  bombings
• Two meta-perspectives of self
• Me as the police see me
• Me as the media see me

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Identity instrument Relevant domains for the
themes

• Domain 2 Parents and friend (2 entities)
• My parents
• My closest friend
• Domain 3 Likely role models (2 entities)
• Someone I admire (pick someone)
• Someone who offends me (pick someone)
• Domain 4 Own community religious leader (1
  entity)
• The most influential religious leader in my
  community

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Identity instrument Relevant domains for the
themes

• Domain 5 Radical Islamists (2 entities)
• Al-Qaeda and similar Islamic groups
• A martyr for Islam
• Domain 6 Government central and local (2
  entities)
• The Government
• Local decision makers
• Domain 7 Alternative long-established British
  ethnicities (2 entities)
• British Christians
• British Jews

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Identity instrument themes incorporated as
potential dimensions of identity

• E.g., for Theme 1 Civics (4 bipolar constructs)
• promotes Sharia law vs. accepts British law
• believes that Islamic codes of behaviour are more
  relevant vs. believes in western-type human
  rights for all
• feels free to speak out openly vs. cannot
  express opinions
• believes that everyone should be personally
  prepared to fight and die to defend their
  traditions vs. believes that peoples traditions
  should be defended by a national, professional
  armed force
• Etc for the other themes

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Anti-infidel radical-Islamist activist
Criteria in terms of

• A) Identification
• Strong identification (idealistic empathetic)
  with Islamic agents both al Qaeda and martyr
• together with
• Strong contra-identification with infidel agents
  Government and British Christians and Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• At least 9 of 10 Islamist values and beliefs
  endorsed, of which at least 8 are core dimensions
  of identity

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Myopic radical-Islamist activist criteria in
terms of

• A) identification
• Strong identification (idealistic empathetic)
  with Islamic agents both al Qaeda and martyr
• together with
• Strong contra-identification with only Government
  ignoring the wider community of British
  Christians and Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• At least 9 of 10 Islamist values and beliefs
  endorsed, of which at least 8 are core dimensions
  of identity

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Anti-infidel strong, moderate, or weak
radical-Islamist sympathiser Criteria in terms
of

• A) Identification
• Strong identification (idealistic empathetic)
  with one or other Islamic agent either al Qaeda
  or martyr
• together with
• Strong contra-identification with infidel agents
  Government and British Christians and Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• Strong sympathiser - at least 9 of 10 Islamist
  values and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 8
  are core dimensions of identity
• Moderate sympathiser at least 8 Islamist
  values and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 2
  are core dimensions of identity
• Weak sympathiser - at least 7 Islamist values
  and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 1 is a
  core dimension of identity

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Myopic strong, moderate, or weak
radical-Islamist sympathiser Criteria in terms
of

• A) Identification
• Strong identification (idealistic empathetic)
  with Islamic agents both al Qaeda and martyr
• together with
• Strong contra-identification with only Government
  ignoring the wider community of British
  Christians and Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• Strong sympathiser - at least 9 of 10 Islamist
  values and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 8
  are core dimensions of identity
• Moderate sympathiser at least 8 Islamist
  values and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 2
  are core dimensions of identity
• Weak sympathiser - at least 7 Islamist values
  and beliefs endorsed, of which at least 1 is a
  core dimension of identity

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Symbolic adherent Islamist sympathiser
Criteria in terms of

• A) Identification
• Strong identification (idealistic empathetic)
  with one or other Islamic agent either al Qaeda
  or martyr
• but
• No strong contra-identification with Government
  and the wider community of British Christians and
  Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• General absence of endorsement of Islamist
  values and beliefs

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Civil anti-infidel Muslim Criteria in terms of

• A) Identification
• No strong identification (idealistic
  empathetic) with Islamic agents either al Qaeda
  or martyr
• but
• Strong contra-identification with infidel agents
  Government and British Christians and Jews

• B) dimensions of identity
• At least 6 of the 10 Islamist construct texts
  to be endorsed but none as core dimensions
• At least 3 of the 4 civil construct texts to be
  endorsed as core dimensions

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Strongly anti radical-Islamist Criteria in
terms of

• A) Identification
• Strong contra-identification with both Islamic
  agents al Qaeda and martyr
• and
• Weak empathetic identification with both Islamic
  agents al Qaeda and martyr

• B) Dimensions of identity
• At least 3 of the 4 British construct texts to
  be endorsed, at least 2 of which to be core
  dimensions

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Moderately and partially anti radical-Islamist
Criteria in terms of

• A) Identification
• Strong contra-identification with one or other
  Islamic agent either al Qaeda or martyr
• and
• Weak empathetic identification with one or other
  Islamic agent either al Qaeda or martyr

• B) Dimensions of identity
• Moderately anti - At least 2 of the 4 British
  construct texts to be endorsed, at least 1 of
  which to be a core dimension
• Partially anti - At least 2 of the 4 British
  construct texts to be endorsed, but none as core

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Within-community encapsulation Criteria in
terms of

• Ego-involvement
• Within own community High with oneself when
  being with ones own community and high with
  members of ones own community, such as parents,
  closest friend and influential community leader
• Beyond own community Low with oneself when with
  the broader society and low with the broader
  society of Government, local decision makers,
  British Christians and British Jews

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Pilot findings to date

• Anti-infidel radical-Islamist activist
  0
• Myopic radical-Islamist activist 0
• Strong anti-infidel radical-Islamist
  sympathiser 0
• Moderate anti-infidel radical-Islamist
  sympathiser 0
• Weak anti-infidel radical-Islamist
  sympathiser 1

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Pilot findings to date

• Strong myopic radical-Islamist sympathiser 1
• Moderate myopic radical-Islamist sympathiser 1
• Weak myopic radical-Islamist sympathiser 0
• Symbolic adherent Islamist sympathiser 2

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Pilot findings to date

• Civil anti-infidel Muslim 1
• Strongly anti radical-Islamist 3
• Moderately anti radical-Islamist 1
• Partially anti radical-Islamist 2
• Within-community encapsulation 1

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Some conclusions

• Muslim youth are not monolithic identikits, even
  when disaffected and subject to referral agencies
  
• The socio-historical context of the era is
  evident
• Identity processes that incorporate societal
  groups and agencies in context are fundamental to
  political processes
• The interdisciplinary ISA conceptual framework
  contributes to analysing such identity processes

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Resources

• See www.identityexploration.com