SERA Preventing radicalisation in prisons -

P a g e | 34 ERASMUS+ N° 580247-EPP-1-2016-1-FR-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN 9. IC Thinking https://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/icthinking-marketing-sheet.pdf IC interventions are based on the work of researchers at the University of Cambridge. Through group work, action learning and other materials, IC interventions promote a change in mindset and approach. Courses consist of 16 contact hours, and are led by a trained facilitator. An example of an IC thinking programme is ‘Being Muslim Being British’, which explores the challenges faced by young Muslims. The aim of the course is to enable young people to think in a novel way, knowing their mind and beliefs, accepting pluralism and diversity. The course is based on cognitive psychology, social psychology and social neuroscience and helps participants develop critical thinking skills, citizenship identity and values pluralism. There are 3 different target audiences :  a) Those vulnerable to extremism or sectarian conflict. IC courses, such as Being Muslim Being British, are suitable to be run in communities, schools, mosques, prisons.  b) School students ages 9-18 years, for citizenship skills, critical thinking abilities and prevention  c) Young children ages 5-8, to help them develop empathy and social/emotional intelligence. RAN (2017) EVALUATION ‘ Empirical results show statistically significant increases in complex critical thinking in regard to extremism. Before an IC course, participants perceive social groups relevant to extremism in black and white, ‘us versus them’ categories, judging from a single evaluative viewpoint, rejecting other viewpoints. After the course, based on participants’ written data, participants no longer see the social world in black and white, there is tolerance for ambiguity, and respect for others’ differing viewpoints. This represents a change in thinking that predicts diminishment of violent conflict: the black and white, conflict provoking structure of the extremist worldview is dissolving. Gains in IC predict promote conflict resolution across 4 decades of Suedfeld and colleague’s integrative complexity cross-cultural research. Participant presentations (given orally) show ability to perceive validity in different viewpoints (differentiation) along with increased empathy, control of emotions, and an increase in confidence in applying the skills IC to address grievances and overcoming the persuasiveness of the extremist narrative. There are significant changes in how participants resolve conflict showing greater confidence in addressing conflict, and greater flexibility in being able to balance the importance of the issue with the relationships involved.