An Analysis of Psychological Dynamics and Factors Causing the Formation of the Radicalism Attitude Among University Students in Palu

Abstract

Radicalism is an important issue in Indonesia and it starts penetrating into higher education institutions. Young generation becomes a proper target to spread such radicalism. This present research is aimed at analyzing the radicalism attitude tendency among university students. The instrument employed is the results of the adaptation and modification from the Activism-Radicalism Intention Scale (ARIS) and the University Students’ Attitude Tendency. Then, an analysis of the causing factors and the dynamics of such radicalism attitude is also discussed in this present research. It was found that 44.5% university students tended to have a low radicalism attitude tendency, 5.6% high, and 11.3% very high. Their age ranged from 16-26 years.  Interestingly, the low rate of the radicalism attitude tendency is predicted to be higher, if no preventive action is immediately taken. This prediction is that   the results of analysis using Bandura’s social cognitive theory namely behavior, environment, and person would greatly contribute to the formation of the radicalism attitude.  The contribution of this present research to the literature is made by providing innovative ways to detect the radicalism attitude tendency among university students, the causing factors, and the dynamic of the formation of such attitude.

Received: 19 July 2021 / Accepted: 17 September 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021