Look for Episode 13: Terrorism — Why do young people join ISIS? Is it nihilism, or, as social scientists suggest, a perverse idealism? This week on Hidden Brain, we explore the psychology of terrorist groups, and why so many young people leave behind promising futures to join them.
As an emergency manager, it is your responsibility to know the hazard — which terrorism is. What causes it and how to mitigate or prevent it should be a personal mission of ours. This podcast makes the case for our social engagement with those who might become radicalized at some point in the future.
It goes to show that the comfortable life is not what everyone wants. The lure of a challenge and having a mission that means something can override the desire for a soft comfy bed and life of ease. It is also not all-out religious fervor. More the calling than the particulars. The fact that people close to those who have been radicalized never saw it coming means that the person-to-person engagement was lacking.
It is also a calling for us as leaders and managers to make the case for emergency management as a calling and not just a job.
I encourage you to listen to this podcast for one perspective.
