Formation of self-identity among former terrorism convicts through symbolic interactionism and self-reflection

Social stigma remains the main obstacle in the process of social reintegration despite successful deradicalisation programs. Former terrorism convicts face a dual challenge: the need to build a new positive identity while confronting strong societal resistance. This study aimed to understand the process of self-identity formation among former terrorism convicts through symbolic interactionism and self-reflection, using the self-concept theories of George Herbert Mead and Anthony Giddens as this study’s theoretical framework. This research employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach to explore the subjective experiences of three former terrorism convicts who have participated in a deradicalisation program by the National Counterterrorism Agency for at least two years. Data were obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analysed step by step to identify individual experiences related to social stigma, symbolic interactionism strategies, and self-reflection in building a new identity. The findings reveal that the success of social reintegration for former terrorism convicts does not solely depend on ideological change but also on their ability to negotiate a new identity through effective communication with society. This process involves identity narratives constructed through supportive social interactions and deep self-reflection. This study provides practical contributions to the development of more adaptive deradicalisation policies and enriches theoretical studies on communication in identity transformation.