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This episode is step ten in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Steven Windisch, the Director of the Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab in the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Windisch's research breaks away from approaches limited to specific phases of the extremist’s life course, such as their period of incarceration. Instead, his research emphasizes the accumulation of risk factors (e.g., physical abuse) and life events (e.g., divorce) that occur during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and how these experiences increase one’s susceptibility to accepting extremist beliefs. 

 In this episode, we:

• discuss risk factors to lead to extremism
• examine the role of compassion and exposure in creating change
• the importance of support systems in drawing people out of extremism
• tangible tools to aid and be open to change
  
  

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Timestamps:

04:26 Defining Change in Extremist Beliefs

12:21 Risk Factors and Pathways to Extremism

19:59 The Role of Compassion and Empathy

26:01 Challenges in Addressing White Supremacy

33:30 Navigating the Stigma of White Supremacy Upon Deradicalization

35:13 The Power of Kindness in Initiating Change

36:53 Personal Experiences with Change

38:36 Parenthood and Identity Transformation

40:17 The Process of Change and Openness

42:43 Challenges in Critical Conversations

46:10 Finding Common Ground in Difficult Dialogues

50:38 Supporting Change and Overcoming Stigma

59:16 Three Captivating Things

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