What are the common patterns of converting people in prison to violent radical causes as posited by Mark Hamm? What does Hamm say lies behind most all prison conversions?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• Hamm found five common patterns of converting people to violent radical causes
• Crisis convert: The first contains people in crisis, and they will respond to religious overtures for emotional support.
• Protection seeking convert: A second type involves people seeking protection in the prison environment; these people will convert because the radical group offers safety.
• Searching converts: The third group of potential converts, searchers, has had little exposure to religion, and they are fascinated by both the multiplicity of religious expressions inside prison and the feeling of belonging for members of the group.
• Manipulating converts: The fourth personality is common in prison; it involves manipulating people for personal gain.
• Free world converts: Hamm classifies chaplains from the outside as free world recruiters.
• Classification of chaplains from the outside as free world recruiters.
• Behind almost every conversion, according to Hamm, lies a friendship or kinship link, but sometimes a new inmate simply meets somebody in the yard and converts to a new faith.