Who are the guidelines for?
This guideline is intended to help professionals identify and prevent violent radicalisation. It includes recommendations for practical approaches.
What is violent radicalisation?
Violent radicalisation refers to a process in which an individual or a group gradually comes to believe that violence is a necessary means to achieve their ideological goals and put an end to harm and opposition caused by perceived opponents.
The process is typically characterised by the following:
Thinking becomes black-and-white:
- Believing that there is only one correct solution to issues.
- Group-based polarisation is intensified, reinforcing an “us against them” mindset.
People outside the group are seen as a threat and blamed for problems.
Increasing willingness to seek revenge and commit acts of violence against those considered responsible.
Violent radicalisation and the activities of extremist groups associated with it pose a serious threat to safety and security, people’s wellbeing, a sense of inclusion, democracy, and human and fundamental rights. The impacts of acts arising from extremist thinking are always wide-ranging and are not limited to individual incidents.
Signs of potential violent radicalisation
If you become concerned, you can use the VALIANT tool to structure your observations. VALIANT helps you identify violent radicalisation and assess related vulnerability as well as individual need for support. The purpose of the tool is to support referral of the client to individual service guidance. The tool also helps you organise your information and highlights any gaps in your knowledge. The VALIANT questionnaire can also serve as a basis for multi-professional collaboration. In addition, the VALIANT tool provides a comprehensive overview of the protective and risk-increasing factors associated with radicalisation. You can use it to support client work and discussions.
VALIANT tool for assessing vulnerability to violent radicalisation and support needs
Pay attention to the following issues that may emerge
In speech and behaviour:
- A black-and-white mindset (“all outsiders are enemies”)
- Acceptance or glorification of violence
- Strong hostility towards certain groups
- Self-harm and cutting (particularly among minors)
In social situations:
- Social withdrawal or changing the circle of friends
- Connections to groups spreading violent ideology
Online behaviour:
- Participation in online forums and discussions that spread hate speech or incite violence
- Interest in online communities that promote serious and extreme violence
Online radicalisation of minors – how to act
Online radicalisation among minors is a growing phenomenon. At the same time, it has been observed that an overall interest in violence has become more prevalent, and young people are more quick to radicalise than before.
Young people are lured into online communities that accept or glorify extreme violence. They may encourage young people to harm themselves and others. If you notice signs that a young person may be involved in the activities of a violent network, respond immediately. Do not remain alone with your concern; contact the authorities. The police and other support services can help the young person disengage from a dangerous environment and provide support for further steps.
In your work, you may also encounter individuals who are already violently radicalised or who show signs of this development. If you become concerned, you can use the VALIANT tool; it helps you identify violent radicalisation and gives you tips on how to proceed.
VALIANT tool for assessing vulnerability to violent radicalisation and support needs
The professional’s role in strengthening resilience
As a social and healthcare professional, you can help prevent violent radicalisation by supporting your clients’ wellbeing and health. By strengthening a client’s psychological resilience, you reinforce their capacity to resist the influence of violent ideologies.
In short:
- Build a trusting relationship with the client.
- Promote inclusion and a sense of community.
- Strengthen their ability to cope with disappointments and crises without resorting to violence.
- Provide information and, when necessary, guide them to appropriate services (e.g., mental health and crisis support).
Preventing violent radicalisation in practice
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Observe changes in the client
Pay attention if the client’s speech or behaviour quickly shifts to black-and-white thinking ot becomes strongly hostile or vengeful. Pay attention to whether the client begins to view certain groups as a threat or to blame them for various problems and grievances. Also note if the client withdraws from relationships, becomes increasingly hostile or glorifies violence. Use the VALIANT tool if necessary to structure your observations.
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Respond with kindness
Talk with the client about their concerns, grievances and experiences. Avoid arguing and aim to understand their perspective and the emotions associated with it. Support the client in building trust and getting an experience of being heard. You can use the guideline for addressing violent radicalisation to support these conversations.
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Support the client’s wellbeing and everyday routines
Aim to support the client’s basic daily structures such as sleep, nutrition, social relationships and meaningful activities. Refer the client to mental health or substance use services when needed. Strengthen the client’s resilience, that is, their ability to tolerate difficult situations and emotions.
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Do not hesitate to take action if concerns increase
Address your concerns with the client and explain what you have observed. Remember that the VALIANT tool helps you structure your information, but you may also consult colleagues, supervisors or a multiprofessional team (while respecting professional confidentiality). Follow your organisation’s guidelines on risk assessment and any potential reporting duties or rights.
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Collaborate
Remember the role of the family and other close persons. Think about how you could collaborate with other authorities when appropriate. Make use of regional networks and support services that can assist the client.
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Documentation
Follow the guidelines for recording information and documentation together with the obligations pertaining to your professional field. Note that the duty to report and the right to report are not the same.
Initiating a conversation about violent radicalisation
Discussions are not only about addressing an incident, but also about prevention – they reduce fear, prevent polarisation and strengthen a sense of community!
Be present, listen, build trust, and support the person’s agency.
Do not rush or argue—conversation is a process.
1. Define the primary goal of the conversation: The purpose is to listen and understand, not to solve everything at once
- Avoid overly rigid objectives: conversations rarely follow a fixed plan.
- Remember your role: you are not an ideology expert but a professional who meets a person in their current situation.
2. Before the discussion, consider:
- Why has the person come into contact with services?
- What immediate needs do they have? What about long-term needs?
Assess the needs for support the person may have:
- Have you used the VALIANT tool? What was the outcome?
- Is a threat or safety assessment drawn up by the police available?
Discussion principles
Allow time for the process and focus on building trust, as change is often gradual and should not be expected to occur within a single meeting.
Create a safe atmosphere by being approachable and genuinely interested, and avoid sarcasm, irony, or judgement. Communicate presence by minimising interruptions, such as using a phone or checking the time, and support trust through appropriate eye contact and calm, composed body language.
Focus on seeing the person behind the ideology or group, rather than only the views they express. Avoid debating or relying solely on fact-based rebuttals, as black-and-white ideologies are most effectively challenged through dialogue and conversation rather than argumentation.
Listen to the client with genuine attention and without preconceptions. Avoid making interpretations and use open-ended questions to deepen your understanding. Be curious and open, and aim to identify the underlying factors, emotions, and needs shaping the discussion.
Use open-ended questions to keep the conversation going
For example:
- What do you think is the problem?
- How could it be resolved? Whose responsibility do you think it is?
- What matters most to you in this situation?
- How does this make you feel?
- Can you explain what you mean? Could you give an example?
- How does this affect your life or the lives of other people?
- Are there other perspectives on this issue? What are they like?
- What good or bad things might happen if you think or act this way?
Explain the next steps at the end
Remember to end the meeting on a positive note. It is good practice to thank the person for their openness and for taking the time to engage in the discussion. At the same time, it is important to clearly explain the next steps, such as a possible follow-up meeting or available support services.
It is also important to explain what kinds of issues help can be provided for by, for example, social and healthcare services, the police, or other actors such as non-governmental organisations. If the person you met wants to disengage from an extremist environment, make sure to inform them about the services and support available to assist with this process.
Important!
Do not promise confidentiality if the law requires you to report the matter or take other action.
Self-reflection
What went well? What could you do better?
When planning next steps, consider the following
When evaluating the encounter, reflect on a few important questions. For example, consider whether the situation involves children and whether, based on what the person has shared with you, they may require support or intervention from child protection services.
Also think about what additional information you need from the person themselves in order to support them in disengaging from a violent extremist environment.
Once you identify what information is still missing, remember to use the VALIANT tool to help recognise gaps in your knowledge. It is also important to clarify whether the person would like their close circle to be involved in the process. If close contacts are included, assess whether this may involve potential risks or whether they could provide support and a sense of safety for the person.
Consult others
Discuss the situation with colleagues before and after the meeting, while respecting the legal limits on information sharing. If necessary, ask the person whether they consent to sharing information with other professionals or organisations. Consider whether additional expertise is needed and who would be best placed to provide it.
- Identify your own emotions and avoid being provoked.
- Create a safe space and establish ground rules for the discussion.
- Avoid reinforcing rumours or incorrect information.
- Steer the discussion away from increasing the perpetrator’s notoriety.
- Strengthen a sense of belonging and hope.
- Provide fact-based information and support critical thinking.
- Ensure there is space for different perspectives in the discussion.
- Follow the documentation guidelines that apply to you.
Special situations
If the person is involved in an extremist environment but is not yet ready to disengage, it is important to strengthen protective factors and structures that can later support their disengagement. For example, use a motivational approach and dialogue.
Motivational interviewing (in Finnish)
Also consider:
- What individual needs has radicalisation met in this person's particular case?
- What keeps the person involved in an extremist subculture? Consider, for example, the role and significance of needs, experiences, and emotions.
- How could these needs be addressed in ways that support wellbeing and mental health?
If the person is ready to disengage, they may need long-term, multi-professional support. Refer them to services where such support can be provided. Individually tailored basic and specialised services are an essential part of the support required by violently radicalised individuals and their close contacts.
Contact the Police Exit Activity and other professionals working in disengagement support. Exit work focuses on supporting individuals in disengaging from the use of violence and from violent extremist ideologies. Support provided through Exit work is always voluntary. The primary goal of the support is to ensure the individual’s safety and to offer psychosocial assistance. Support is available both to the person seeking help and to their close contacts. Each situation is assessed individually to ensure that the support meets the person’s specific needs.
Exit activity (Police)
However, not everyone trusts authorities. A violently radicalised person or someone who holds a hostile attitude towards society may feel that authorities are not reliable partners. For this reason, some individuals may find it easier to seek help from non-governmental organisations. For example, Aggredi is an organisation that provides disengagement support.
Aggredi (In Finnish)
Religious and other ideological communities also play an important role. They can strengthen their members’ ability to resist messages that incite violence. This is most effective when communities work in cooperation with authorities and organisations.
Checklist for the meeting
- During the meeting, it is important to identify the person’s short and long term needs and goals. At the same time, consider how their own sense of agency and ability to influence their situation can be strengthened.
- It is also important to take into account whether the situation involves children who may need support or protection.
- In addition, map out what kind of help and support the person can receive from other actors, such as social and healthcare services, the Anchor model, the police Exit programme, or various organisations.
- It is essential to clearly agree on the next concrete steps, so that the person gains a clear and logical overall understanding of the support available and how the process will move forward.
During the meeting, it is important to consider why the person made contact and what prompted them to seek help at this particular time. Listen carefully to what they share, and at the same time reflect on how you respond to and process the information they provide. Consider whether the situation requires the involvement of other professionals.
Assess whether the person themselves needs support and what kind of support would be appropriate. Also pay attention to whether the situation involves children and whether they may need support or protection. Finally, it is important to consider and define the next steps clearly and how the matter will proceed in practical terms.
An extremist or terrorist act can evoke a wide range of emotions, including among those who have followed the event only through the media or social media. Common reactions include fear, grief, disgust, contempt and anger. The purpose, and often the effect, of such acts is to influence a large number of people, not only those directly involved. For this reason, safe and constructive discussion is essential.
Consider the wider impacts
A terrorist act can have far-reaching effects on society. It may increase prejudice and discrimination, particularly against minority groups, but it can also strengthen solidarity and a sense of belonging among people. Research shows, however, that terrorist acts often harden attitudes towards minorities. This makes strengthening social cohesion and preventing polarisation especially important in such situations.
Why is discussion important?
Discussion is important because people are exposed to extremist and terrorist acts mainly through the media and social media, where information is often emotionally charged and attention-seeking. An individual’s capacity to process such events and the emotions they evoke on their own is limited. If discussion is avoided, people are likely to seek information elsewhere—often from incomplete, one-sided, or biased sources. This can easily lead to emotion-driven conclusions that increase fear, anger, and confrontation, in other words, polarisation.
Professional preparation – checklist
- Identify your own emotional reactions to the topic and to people’s responses.
- Anticipate situations you may find personally challenging.
- Plan in advance how you will steer a discussion that may evoke strong emotions.
- Establish clear ground rules for the discussion where possible (respect, listening, no blaming).
Objectives of the discussion
The aim of the discussion is to strengthen a sense of belonging and to prevent confrontation and polarisation. Through discussion, the spread of misinformation and rumours can be countered by creating space for questions and shared understanding. It is also important to strengthen hope and to remind people that there are always alternatives to violence. At the same time, discussion enhances a sense of safety and builds trust in the future.
Keep these points in mind
- Do not share or reinforce information that has not been confirmed by the authorities.
- Focus on rescue efforts, those providing help, and the victims. Avoid discussion that centres on the perpetrator, as this fuels fear and gives the perpetrator publicity.
- Speak of the perpetrator as an individual, not as a representative of a group. Avoid simplifications and stereotypes.
- Ensure that different perspectives are represented in the discussion.
THL’s role
THL is a national expert in violence prevention. We support wellbeing services counties and professionals in social and health care by providing guidelines, recommendations, tools, and training. We also develop structures for violence prevention and coordinate collaboration in the field.
Contact details
Senior Specialist
[email protected]