TCL (T1:1-3) High-identity Conversion

High-Identity Conversion

High-Identity Conversion:  Quintan Wiktorowicz studied how Islamic extremists were so successful in recruiting activists to the jihadi movement in the late 1990’s.  The question he explored looked at what it takes to get someone to make the decision to change their whole identity for the sake of a cause.  The answer he found led to the creation of a model which explains what he calls high-identity conversion.¹

High-identity conversion begins when a person’s belief system is shaken by an event or life-changing situation.  They begin to question the reasons for the disruption and try to make sense what it means for their future.

At this point, Wiktorowicz says the person is open to consider explanations that come from a different belief system. They are willing to think about a new religion and how it will impact their life going forward.  Wiktorowicz identified four stages which a person goes through while considering the conversion question.

1. 1. Cognitive Opening – The disruption leaves a person open to different ideas and worldviews found in the new religious system.As a result, they will begin to consider the meaning of this new system for their own life’s situation without taking action.
   2. Religious Seeking – The person begins to actively seek meaning and understanding from the new religious system, and will search for more information to answer their questions.
   3. Frame Alignment – The new religious system begins to make sense for the person seeking understanding. They start to see how the new system fits or aligns with their own beliefs.
   4. Socialization – The seeker accepts teaching, experiences, values and identity shaping from the new religious system.