Staircase model

The staircase model is a psychological explanation as to why, out of large numbers of disgruntled people in society, only a very small minority end up committing acts of terrorism.

[2] Moghaddam observed that societal-level variables, such as lack of democratic processes, social inequality, availability of weapons and rapid demographic changes, do not explain why only a small percentage of people living under the same adverse conditions end up committing acts of violence against innocent targets.

People who find options to improve their individual situation and influence decision-makers leave the staircase at this floor in order to pursue non-violent paths.

Potential recruits are offered a new social identity as members of a selective ingroup who aim to bring justice to the world.

[1][3] Moghaddam states the model is not a formal one, but rather a metaphor for the purpose of providing general framework in order to organise current psychological knowledge regarding terrorism.

[2] Nevertheless, the model is cited as useful for conceptualising the process that results in only a small number of individuals from a large group of disgruntled people will commit acts of violence against the innocent.

[3] Moghaddam states that it is not enough to simply try and identify and stop potential terrorists, as this will only make room for new people to step forward, and instead proposes that the only way to end terrorism is by reforming the condition on the ground floor so that it is no longer perceived as unjust and hopeless by a large portion of society.