For years, the conversation around countering extremism has been dominated by a single, often problematic narrative: threat. Communities, particularly Muslim communities in Europe, have found themselves under the microscope, subjected to programs designed to “counter” narratives, often with the unintended consequence of fostering alienation and distrust. But a groundbreaking new study out of the Netherlands suggests there might be a better way—one that doesn’t start with fear, but with inner strength.
Published in Frontiers in Psychology, the research by Dr. Mark Dechesne of Leiden University and Dr. Jamal Ahajjaj introduces a novel program called “Discover Your Inner Strength.” This isn’t your typical counter-terrorism initiative. Instead of focusing on what participants are against, it focuses on what they are for. It leverages a powerful combination of positive psychology and Islamic scripture to help Muslims in the Netherlands navigate everyday challenges, from social friction to personal doubt.
The results are encouraging. The program, which guides participants through group reflections on Quranic verses and the creation of personal action plans, has been shown to significantly increase a key psychological asset: Personal Growth Initiative (PGI).
The Paradox of Counter-Terrorism
The study begins by identifying a critical flaw in many current Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) programs. While well-intentioned, these initiatives often operate from a threat-based perspective. They seek to build trust and dialogue, but do so from a position of suspicion.
“The paradox of the intent to establish rapport, dialog, and trust, essentially to manage a potential threat, has constituted the Achilles-heel of P/CVE initiatives,” the authors write. “For effective dialog and rapport to emerge, this unbalance needs to be addressed.”
This imbalance leads to what the researchers call “false positives”—entire communities treated as potential threats. Instead of fostering connection, this approach can inadvertently contribute to the very alienation and insecurity it aims to prevent.
A Paradigm Shift: From Threat to Strength
The “Discover Your Inner Strength” initiative represents a radical paradigm shift. It is built on the idea that instead of trying to replace or counter religious identity, we should affirm and strengthen it. Drawing from positive psychology, the program assumes that a strong, affirmed identity can be a powerful source of resilience.
The program is structured around four common challenges identified by Dutch Muslims:
- Division among Muslims
- Friction between Muslims and non-Muslims
- Negative Perceptions by non-Muslims
- Intrapersonal Concerns like anxiety and self-doubt
For each challenge, a positive, constructive goal is established: moving from division to wholeness, from friction to harmony, from negative perception to veracity, and from doubt to courage.
In group sessions led by an imam, participants read and discuss Quranic verses relevant to these themes. But the core of the intervention is a simple, yet powerful, psychological technique known as Mental Contrasting and Implementation Intentions (MCII). In plain language, this involves creating “IF-THEN” plans.
Participants are asked to identify a specific challenge (“IF I have a disagreement with my parent regarding religion…”) and then formulate a constructive, faith-inspired solution (“…THEN I treat my parents with respect and discuss my viewpoint in an open manner”). These aren’t just abstract ideas; participants are encouraged to practice these plans for several weeks.
The Evidence: A Rise in Personal Growth
To test the program’s effectiveness, the researchers conducted two separate studies in The Hague and Rotterdam. They tracked participants’ scores on measures of Personal Growth Initiative (PGI)—a person’s active desire and ability to grow and improve themselves—as well as emotional wellbeing and sociability.
The results were clear and consistent. While the program didn’t show significant effects on emotional wellbeing or sociability (which were already high), it had a marked impact on PGI. Participants who attended the sessions and practiced their IF-THEN plans reported a significantly greater sense of personal efficacy and growth.
Table 1: The Impact on Personal Growth Initiative (Study 1)
| Group | Measurement Time | Average PGI Score (Higher = Better) | Statistical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attendees | Before Thematic Session | 110.4 | Not significant |
| Attendees | After Thematic Session & Practice | 116.8 | Significant Increase (p < 0.005) |
| Non-Attendees | Before Thematic Session | 108.1 | Not significant |
| Non-Attendees | After Thematic Session & Practice | 108.1 | No Change |
Note: PGI scores could range from 22 (lowest) to 154 (highest). The significant increase in attendees shows the program’s effectiveness.
Table 2: Cumulative Growth Across Multiple Sessions (Study 2)
| Measurement Point | Average PGI Score (Higher = Better) |
|---|---|
| Before First Session | 106.9 |
| After “Division to Wholeness” Session | 108.8 |
| After “Friction to Harmony” Session | 115.8 |
This shows a clear linear trend: the more participants engaged with the program, the higher their personal growth initiative climbed.
More Than Just Statistics: Building a Shared Language
Perhaps the most profound finding of the study was not in the numbers, but in the process itself. The researchers observed that the combination of a shared religious text and the structured IF-THEN format created a powerful frame for dialogue.
Participants reported that the program gave them a clearer sense of how to act when facing a challenge, made them feel better prepared, and, crucially, provided a supportive space to share their experiences with like-minded others. This sense of shared reality and affirmed identity is a potent antidote to the isolation that can sometimes make individuals vulnerable to extremist messaging.
A New Look at an Old Problem
The authors are careful to note the limitations of their study—the sample sizes were small, and the findings are preliminary. However, the consistency of the results and the positive feedback from participants suggest that this approach holds immense promise.
This research offers a powerful new direction for the field of P/CVE. It suggests that the most effective way to build resilience is not to focus on what divides us, but to empower individuals by affirming who they are. By shifting the focus from a threat-based approach to one centered on personal growth and identity affirmation, we may finally begin to build the genuine trust and dialogue that have so long eluded us.
As the researchers conclude, this isn’t just about preventing extremism; it’s about helping people discover their own inner strength. And that is a goal everyone can get behind.
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