Kees van den Bos answers questions about radicalisation

Prof Dr Kees van den Bos (Social Psychology) was asked questions about radicalisation by the Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the radicalisation of Muslims takes place very quickly. For example, people often travel to the ISIS area shortly after they radicalised. People with a criminal past, alcohol and drug users, young Muslims who religiously led the life of a loser, can suddenly see the light. For them, terrorism is a form of penance, so their sins are forgiven", says Van den Bos.

Preventive awareness

"We found out relatively late that radicalisation can happen so quickly", states Van den Bos. "We have to find an answer, because it is much more difficult to achieve something with someone who is already radicalised than with people who are still in the phase before that. We have to invest even more in preventive awareness."

Kees van den Bos

Kees van den Bos is a psychologist, and also connected to Institutions for Open Societies - an interdisciplinary research area of Utrecht University focused on the development and expansion of healthy open societies everywhere.