Protecting Teens Against Extremist Ideologies with Dr. Emily Bashah
Episode Summary
In today's hyper-connected world, children are more exposed than ever to extremist ideologies that can profoundly influence young minds. There has been an enormous uptick in groups ranging from white supremacists to religious extremists who are aggressively targeting children as young as 11 on platforms popular with teens. For example, a neo-Nazi organization recently ran a social media recruitment campaign using gaming imagery and memes that received 800,000 views from boys aged 12-15.
In this episode, Dr. Emily Bashaw, a clinical psychologist and expert on radicalization, discusses the alarming trend of extremist groups targeting teenagers on social media platforms.
She explains the concept of addictive ideologies and how vulnerable individuals can be influenced by propaganda and tribal beliefs. Dr. Bashaw emphasizes the importance of building resilience and critical thinking skills in teenagers to protect them from extremist influences. She also highlights the role of parents in fostering open communication and engaging in difficult conversations with their teens.
The conversation concludes with a reminder to humanize others and promote acceptance while demanding personal growth.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Teenagers are vulnerable to extremist influences on social media platforms, and parents need to be proactive in safeguarding their children.
Building resilience and critical thinking skills in teenagers can help protect them from falling prey to extremist ideologies.
Engaging in open and non-confrontational conversations with teenagers can help them develop a broader perspective and resist extremist messages.
Humanizing others and promoting acceptance are essential in countering extremist beliefs and fostering empathy.
Meet Dr. Emily Bashah
Dr. Emily Bashah is an author and licensed psychologist with a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona. An expert witness in criminal, immigration and civil courts, she has worked on high-profile cases covering issues of domestic terrorism and capital offenses, and first-degree murder.
Dr. Bashah was awarded the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Policy Fellowship and served within the American Psychological Association’s Public Interest Government Relations Office in Washington, D.C. A frequent expert guest in media, Dr. Bashah clinically specializes in mental illness, personal and collective trauma, addiction and grief and loss, as well as family and relationship dynamics. She is the co-author with the Honorable Paul E. Johnson Jr. of Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning in Agency When Politics Fail You.
Watch the Full Interview
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:03 Addictive Ideologies and Radicalization
04:07 The Influence of Social Media and Online Behavior
05:24 Impact on Teenagers
09:31 Signs of Targeting and Messages
10:42 Preventing Extremist Influences
13:48 Engaging in Difficult Conversations
15:05 Understanding Extremist Recruitment Tactics
18:36 Promoting Agency and Critical Thinking
20:45 Acceptance and Demanding More
25:49 Humanizing Others and Building Resilience
29:34 Engaging with Teens
31:46 Conclusion
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Addictive Ideologies: Finding Meaning in Agency When Politics Fail You.
Dr. Bashah’s FREE worksheets for parents.
FREE Guide: Dr. Cam’s 10 Pro Tips for Raising Teens
Thanks for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.
Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Send me a comment!
Subscribe to the Podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, YouTube, Google, Spotify. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device or listen LIVE in my Private Facebook Group.
Leave an iTunes Review
Ratings and reviews from my listeners are extremely valuable and greatly appreciated. They help this podcast rank higher on iTunes, which exposes the show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave a review on iTunes.
Find inspiration and information every Tuesday on THE PARENTING TEENS WITH DR. CAM PODCAST.
Subscribe to the show:
Apple Podcasts
THANKS FOR VISITING DR. CAM CONSULTING
Most of the information on this site is free for you to read, watch or listen to, but Dr. Cam Consulting is also a business and my livelihood. So please expect hyperlinks to be affiliate links in many cases, when I receive a small percentage of sales if you wish to purchase. I only recommend tools, books, and services that I either use or people I know personally. Integrity and authenticity continue to be of the highest importance to me. Read the privacy policy here.
