About the Workshop

The increasing radicalization of youth worldwide has become a serious concern, with growing divisions between groups and the rise of extremist ideologies. Youth caught in the cycle of extremism face significant social and psychological challenges, often resulting from complex interactions between socio-political factors, trauma, and feelings of exclusion. In such contexts, extremist ideologies provide a sense of belonging, identity, and purpose. However, these frameworks intensify an “us vs. them” mentality that exacerbates social exclusion.

This workshop addresses this critical issue by presenting the development of a novel interventional module aimed at fostering the social inclusion of extremist youth and countering their isolation.

The workshop will outline a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach, combining psychological principles, community engagement, and policy implications. The interventional module is grounded in developmental and social psychology, with an emphasis on cognitive-behavioral strategies, resilience-building, and identity reconstruction. The intervention draws upon theories of social identity, group dynamics, and narrative therapy to provide a structured yet flexible framework that can be adapted to diverse cultural and societal contexts.

The proposed module operates in three core phases:

  1. Identity Disengagement and Narrative Therapy: The first phase focuses on identity exploration and disengagement from extremist ideologies. Participants are encouraged to critically reflect on their ideological beliefs, confront cognitive distortions, and reconstruct personal narratives that promote self-worth and agency outside of extremist frameworks.
  2. Resilience and Coping Skills: The second phase of the module involves teaching coping strategies to manage stress, trauma, and socio-economic pressures that may contribute to radicalization. This segment focuses on emotional regulation, developing a growth mindset, and cultivating resilience against extremist messaging.
  3. Social Inclusion and Community Reintegration: The final phase emphasizes the importance of community and social networks in sustaining long-term behavioral change. It provides participants with the tools to build meaningful relationships, foster empathy, and find a sense of belonging in broader society. This phase also includes mentorship and role-modeling elements to support sustainable social inclusion.

The workshop will combine didactic presentations, interactive group activities, and case studies, allowing participants to explore the application of the interventional module in practice. Participants will be introduced to various techniques, including role-playing, cognitive restructuring exercises, and group discussions, to demonstrate the model’s flexibility across different settings.

Through this workshop, psychologists, educators, and practitioners working with youth, especially in post-conflict and at-risk environments, will gain insight into how tailored interventions can shift extremist mindsets toward positive social inclusion. By challenging “us vs. them” dynamics and promoting inclusive identities, the module provides a holistic strategy to address youth extremism at its psychological and social roots.

Learning Objectives

  1. Participants will be able to identify the psychological factors contributing to youth radicalization and the impact of social exclusion on extremist identity formation.
  2. Participants will explore the development and application of cognitive-behavioral and narrative therapy interventions aimed at disengaging extremist youth from violent ideologies.
  3. Participants will learn effective resilience-building strategies to counter extremist messaging and develop coping mechanisms for stress and trauma in at-risk youth.
  4. Participants will gain practical skills in fostering social inclusion and community reintegration for youth, using evidence-based techniques to encourage empathy and group cohesion.

Bibliography

Lavina Pratap Bhambhani, Dr. Ranjeeta Kumari, Dr. Mahesh Tripathi (Sept 2024). Exhibitionism Explored: Insights into the Deviant Act, The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12 (3) 2755-2766.

Dr. Shahanshah Gulpham & Dr. Mahesh Tripathi (March 2023). G-20 Group and India’s Internal Security, Policy Samvad, 1(2) 49-50.

Gulpham S, Mahesh Tripathi & S. L. Vaya (May 2023). Theorizing Law of Confidence in the criminal justice delivery system through the utilization of heuristics” International Journal of Advance Legal Research, 3 (4).

Shreyansh Srivastava & Mahesh A. Tripathi (March 2023). Transvestism: An Overview of Historical Context, Causes, and Clinical Implications, Indian Journal of Social Studies and Humanities, 1 (12/13) 32-38.

Kathane P. J., Tripathi M. A., Tiwari S. S. (November 2022). A review of the status of incarcerated prisoners with an unsound mind and need for remedies to protect their constitutional rights. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2022;64:540-4.

Mahesh A Tripathi, Anand Kumar Tripathi & Shahanshah Gulpham (August 2021). Negligence Vis-À-Vis Ignorance of Fact concerning Responsibilities of Investigative Officers, The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology, 3 (8) 33-39

Mabel C., Nishad, N., & Tripathi, M. A. (July-2021). Bestiality: A cruelty towards the animal, Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 15(3), 3414-3419.

Bhambhani, L. P., Tripathi, M. A., & Prakash, S. (2021). Psychopathy and sociopathy: A modern understanding of antisocial personality disorder (Review Article). Indian Journal of Social Studies and Humanities, 1(5), 17–23.

Gaur, J. R., Tripathi, M. A., Kumar, K. V. R., Mistry, D., & Prakash, S. (2021). A paradigm shift like human trafficking in India. International Journal of Management and Social Science Research Review, 8(4), 9–13.

Pandey, R., Shrivastava, S., Rathore, S., Tripathi, M. A., Sharma, S., & Choudhary, S. (2021). Risk Management Framework for Educational Institutions in Tackling Veiled Relationship Violence among Students. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 9(1), 1915–1921.

Kumar, A., Tripathi, M. A., & Gaur, J. R. (2021). A preliminary study on male victimization in the eyes of females in India. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 9(5), 327–339.

Jha, M. K., Tripathi, M. A., & Gaur, J. R. (2021). Malingering: A way to escape from punishment. Indian Journal of Social Studies and Humanities, 1(6), 1–7.

Gaur, J. R., & Tripathi, M. A. (2021). Insanity, mental trauma, crime, and the law. International Journal of Management and Social Science Research Review, 8(2), 10–15.

On: