Identification of risk factors of volent extremism among Malaysian violent extremism detainees

The current rapid emergence of violent extremism urges inter-disciplinary approach to inspect the phenomenon at a micro-level, and later to build a model which could provide a clear depiction of its causes. A method which could directly address the cause of violent extremism necessitates an assessment of probable risk factors among violent extremists. The empirical nature of neuropsychological as well as psychological assessment will allow an objective view of the causes of every human behavior, and it could provide resolute differences in neuropsychological abilities between violent and non-violent acts among atypical individuals. The present study aims to examine the risk factors which could be present among violent extremist detainees in Malaysia. This study will assess the cognitive functioning as well as risk- taking personality traits, and cognitive distortion of individuals detained for their involvement in violent extremism in Malaysia and compare their results with that of the individuals without any prior convictions. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery will be used to evaluate neuropsychological functioning which includes executive functioning, risk-taking, motor and mental response. The present study proposes a method of analysis which aims to compare neuropsychological abilities of two groups of individuals: those detained of violent extremism and typical individuals. The data collected will be analyzed via logistic regression to build a model which depicts the factors that are predictive of violent extremism