Feeling upset, alone, or lacking meaning and purpose in life

Being insecure and unstable in a person's life can lead that individual to make all sorts of rash and impulsive decisions. For example, a study showed that men who felt insecure about their masculinity were much more likely to become violent than men who were secure with themselves. ^[1] Extremism gives people a sense of stability and belonging to a community of people who may feel similar to them. Community and group thinking makes people feel more confident in their decisions and leads to more swift and decisive action without taking risks into account, leading to violence. ^[2] People who feel upset and alone may find comfort and community through the internet. Online platforms give extremists the ability to disseminate information and recruit other extremists from the comfort of their own homes. The rise of cyber terrorism and online violence has caused concern amongst government officials around the world.