Colman Noctor: How to stop teenage boys from being radicalised 

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ONE of the major mistakes parents of teenagers make is shutting down their children’s views if they differ from theirs. The saying among young people’s mental health professionals, “the more you listen, the less they shout”, suggests if adults ignore their children’s grievances, they don’t just disappear but fester instead, become polarised and often emerge in challenging behaviours.

This dynamic can be seen in some of Ireland’s current societal issues, with the voices of people who feel disenfranchised not being heard by senior decision-makers, resulting in escalating protests. An example at the extreme end of the scale was seen in the civil unrest in Dublin city, on November 23. Judging by news footage of the riots, many involved were in their late teens and 20s.

While an anti-migrant sentiment seems to have driven the protests, it could also have been a convenient excuse to express frustrations about many other issues. Such frustrations lead to some people taking extreme measures to instigate change and far-right figureheads are only too happy to harness that frustration for their own aims.

Some of the Dublin protestors may be unhappy or uncomfortable with recent trends in migration.

However, looting, attacking law enforcement and setting fire to public transport services is not a reasonable or excusable way of being heard. Furthermore, using the stabbing of young children and their creche worker in Parnell Square as the catalyst for their behaviour was abhorrent.

The events in Dublin confirm the growing frustration levels in society. The housing crisis and inflation pressures occurring after two years of rolling lockdowns have left many with the sense that their civil liberties have been obstructed.

Several far-right parties have come into power across Europe in recent years. In the US, we saw the shocking events on January 6, 2021, when thousands stormed the Capitol building. The demonstrators placed much of the blame for their struggles on the political elite. When people feel dismissed by those in power and believe their concerns are not being heard, an escalation in their actions is predictable. It is a well-known political dynamic that a rise in left-wing ideologies will trigger a symbiotic rise in right-wing conservatism.

Radicalising teenage boys

Last week, I wrote about shielding young children from horrific news stories. However, a different parenting task exists for parents of older teenagers, who will be all too aware of the Dublin riots and want to know how they came about.

Most young people will believe the events of November 23 were inexcusable and will be quick to criticise the actions of those involved. But there will always be a minority intrigued by the actions of these groups and will express a degree of sympathy with their cause.

Professor of sociology at Manchester University Hilary Pilkington published research earlier this year which found that most radicalisation pathways lead to a range of outcomes among young people, of which violent extremism is rare. So, while some young teens may hold right-wing beliefs, most will not take to the streets to violently vocalise them. We might assume that young people who have these beliefs are limited to working-class communities, but just because a young person comes from a middle-class background does not make them immune to holding extremist right-wing views.

I have spoken to principals in leafy Dublin suburbs who encounter young boys who follow misogynistic Andrew Tate and express racist views. I also have met many young men who come from affluent families and have been shocked to hear their opinions on women and anti-migrant sentiments. Most young people digest their news online, so even those considered privileged are susceptible to being influenced by unreliable but alluring sources outside that of their immediate family and community.

According to crime journalist and podcaster Nicola Tallant, far-right groups are highly organised and well-funded. In a recent podcast, she spoke about the propaganda strategies employed by these groups, including Hollywood-style recruitment videos. These extreme groups are strategic, circulating videos that depict compelling ‘evidence’ to justify why they act the way they do. The far-right group leaders are acutely aware that disenfranchised young males in their teens and early 20s are perfect candidates to recruit as they offer physical power and the capacity to be intimidating.

So what are the variables that make a young person susceptible to becoming radicalised by an extremist group? According to a 2023 British Department of Education policy titled ‘Safeguarding learners vulnerable to radicalisation’, adverse childhood experiences, combined with negative influences from family and peers or online connections, could make a person more susceptible to radicalisation. Other influences can include family members who are involved with extremist groups, peers who promote an extremist ideology or share extremist material, and exposure to online extremist material via social media or the internet, for example, propaganda including pictures, videos, blogs and fake news.

Push and pull factors

Certain ‘push and pull factors’ can put a vulnerable young person at risk of extremism. 

The ‘push factors’ may include feeling isolated, not belonging, having no purpose, low self-esteem, and unmet aspirations, which can leave them feeling angry or frustrated with a strong sense of injustice or feeling confused about life or the world. 

The ‘pull factors’ include how an extremist group, organisation or individual can offer the young person a sense of community and a support network. They often promise fulfilment or excitement and make the young person feel special and part of a wider mission. 

By offering narrow, manipulated versions of identity that often support stereotypical gender norms it provides young males with a false clarity in a world often experienced as confusing.

Far-right groups often encourage conspiracy theories and promote an ‘Us v them’ mentality, blaming communities, such as migrants, for their grievances. This can quickly progress to encouraging hatred and promoting violence as the only means of getting justice. These extreme messages and philosophies can be attractive to a young person who struggles to fit in. When young men feel invalidated and dismissed by the world around them, extremist organisations offer a sanctuary where they can have a sense of identity and belonging.

Identity and belonging are pivotal goals of adolescence, so these ideological groups may appear more tempting to them than to adults who have already established a clear identity. But, just because their appeal is non-existent to us as adults, doesn’t mean we can dismiss their relevance to younger people.

I would encourage all parents to listen to their teenage sons. Explore their political views without judgement and allow them to express their thoughts and feelings about socio-cultural issues. If their opinions differ from yours, don’t dismiss them out of hand. Instead, hear them out and gently encourage them to challenge the far right mantras they are being sold.

Openly listening to what they say will allow you to keep an eye on the direction of their political leanings. Don’t underestimate your importance as a role model and influencer. Offer your son alternative ways to establish a sense of identity and belonging without adopting extreme ideologies to find a place to belong.

Dr Colman Noctor is a child psychotherapist