Countering terrorist recruitment messages requires systematic analysis of the message using communication theory as a guide.

In the example above, Kurt Braddock, lecturer in communication arts and sciences at Penn State, and John Horgan, professor of psychology at the Global Studies Institute, Georgia State University, examine the recruitment narrative of Andre Poulin.

Poulin is a Canadian citizen and Muslim convert, who traveled to Syria in 2012 to fight with ISIS. The researchers identify the themes of the narrative, then offer challenges to Poulin’s narrative to create the counterargument.

Braddock adds that the eventual counter-narrative would be disseminated to a target audience through a trusted source.

Read the full article about Braddock and Horgan’s research on Penn State News.

You can view a larger version of the graphic here.

Members of the news media interested in talking to Braddock should contact Matt Swayne at 814-865-5774 or mls29@psu.edu.