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Peter Weinreich Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Ulster

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

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Peter Weinreich Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Ulster

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  1. 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 Queen’s University Belfast Tuesday 2 March 2010 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  2. What is Identity Structure Analysis (ISA)? • ISA’s 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. (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  3. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  4. 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. (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  5. 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. (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  6. 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. (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  7. 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 person’s empathetic identification with another modulates according to situations, contexts and mood states (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  8. Conflicted identifications… • When self empathetically identifies with another person while simultaneously contra-identifying with that person, self’s 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 people’s empathetic identification with others modulate according to situations, contexts and mood states, so will their conflicted identifications alter accordingly (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  9. Identity diffusion … • People’s conflicted identifications with others may be dispersed across several persons. • A state of high identity diffusion is manifest when self’s 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. (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  10. How is the ISA conceptual framework operationalised? • Psychological definitions • Algorithms • Computer software • Identity instrument editor • Instrument display and data capture • Data analysis and output (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  11. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  12. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  13. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  14. 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 …can’t 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 participant’s appraisal of self and the social world (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  15. 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 ContextsLondon: Routledge & Psychology Press. Chapter 2. • Dedicated computer software for facilitating ISA: Weinreich, P., & Ewart, S. (2008) Ipseus.www.identityexploration.com (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  16. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  17. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  18. 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 one’s 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  19. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  20. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  21. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  22. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  23. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  24. 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 people’s traditions should be defended by a national, professional armed force] Etc for the other themes (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  25. A) Identification Strong identification (idealistic & empathetic) with Islamic agents – both al Qaeda and martyr together with Strong contra-identification with infidel agents – Government andBritish 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 ‘Anti-infidel’ radical-Islamist activist: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  26. 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 ‘Myopic’ radical-Islamist activist: criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  27. 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 andBritish 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 ‘Anti-infidel’ strong, moderate, or weak radical-Islamist sympathiser: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  28. 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 ‘Myopic’ strong, moderate, or weak radical-Islamist sympathiser: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  29. 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 ‘Symbolic adherent’ Islamist sympathiser: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  30. A) Identification No strong identification (idealistic & empathetic) with Islamic agents – either al Qaeda or martyr but Strong contra-identification with infidel agents – Government andBritish Christians and Jews B) dimensions of identity At least 6 of the 10 ‘Islamist’ construct texts to be endorsed butnone as core dimensions At least 3 of the 4 ‘civil’ construct texts to be endorsed as core dimensions ‘Civil anti-infidel’ Muslim: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  31. 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 Strongly anti radical-Islamist: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  32. 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 Moderately and partially anti radical-Islamist: Criteria in terms of – (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  33. Within-community encapsulation: Criteria in terms of – • Ego-involvement • Within own community: High with oneself when being with one’s own community and high with members of one’s 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  34. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  35. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  36. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  37. 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 (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

  38. Resources • See: www.identityexploration.com (c) Peter Weinreich, March 2010

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