There are a range of anti-social behaviours that can lead people down the wrong path. To help you better understand how to identify anti-social behaviours which can lead to violent extremism, we introduce a model called The Behavioural Indicators Model.

The model is adaptable to incorporate warning signs that highlight a range of anti-social behaviours including drug abuse and forms of criminality. These can all have similar social and economic roots, which can also lead to violent extremism.

This model applies regardless of the ideology or motivation for extremism.

By outlining different levels of anti-social behaviours, it will help you to recognise warning signs before they become a concern.

The Behavioural Indicators Model was developed by Monash University using information from historical case studies, existing theories and from those who have experienced radicalisation.

The model is not specific to any one particular national, political, religious or ideological group.

The key purpose of the model is to identify changing behaviours and increasing intensities of the behaviours which can indicate that a person may be at risk of anti-social behaviour which can lead to violent extremism.

The model includes three key behavioural categories: Social Relations, Ideology and Criminal/Action Orientation.

Behaviours can be grouped into three increasing levels of intensity: Notable, Concerning and Attention. Few people reach the Attention level.

Increasing levels of behaviour intensity can occur over a long period of time.

It is not just one behaviour that can indicate whether a person is at risk to vulnerable or anti-social behaviour; it is a combination of behaviours and intensity levels.

Most people who get involved in violent extremism or gangs etc tend to leave eventually. Most who leave tend to do so voluntarily.

So just as a person might become more anti-social, they can also reverse this trend and get their life back on track.

This involves changes in the same three areas of Social Relations, Ideology and Criminal/Action Orientation.

In order to help friends and family identify warning signs of an escalation in a person’s anti-social attitudes and behaviour in any given category, this model is divided into three levels of intensity across all three categories.

The model’s levels of intensity are categorised as Notable, Concerning and Attention and the colours green, yellow and red correspond with these levels of intensity.

The blue area represents the overwhelming majority of the population who are not showing any signs of anti-social attitudes or behaviours.