The Changing Profile of Homegrown Terrorists

The shift in the radicalization landscape in 2015, especially the ever-changing profile of the “homegrown terrorist,” has become one of the greatest concerns of those who protect our homeland.    Notwithstanding the horrific attacks in other parts of the world during the past year, the devastating events in San Bernardino, California and other planned and attempted terrorist activities here in the United States have clearly illustrated that there is no longer a standard “profile” of a homegrown terrorist.   In fact, the categorization of a person as “homegrown” belies the fact that the impetus, if not the catalyst, of their radicalization came from beyond this country’s physical borders.  

During the past year, terrorists and terrorist “wanna-bes” have ranged from the “lone-wolf” types whose lack of positive personal relationships and self-esteem spur their anti-social and criminal activity, to the small groups of ISIS sympathizers whose twisted beliefs and lack of empathy for others lead them to such actions as killing co-workers and shoot-outs with police.   Because these recruits are increasingly different from one another in their attitudes, personalities, and even in their motivation for aligning with radicals, attempting to identify possible offenders solely from the common profile of the young, male, Middle Eastern, radical Muslim makes attempts to thwart attacks considerably harder.