Parents’ Awareness of Intellectual Extremism Among Their Children and Strategies to Confront It in Saudi Families
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.10156Keywords:
Intellectual extremism, Strategies to confront extremism, Family.Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to assess the level of intellectual extremism among children and its relationship with strategies to confront it.
Methods: A social survey method was employed on a random sample of 2,018 parents aged 40 to 70 years. The study utilized two measurement scales: one for intellectual extremism and another for strategies to counteract it.
Results: The findings indicated that the overall level of intellectual extremism was below average, with political extremism being the most prevalent, followed by religious, social, and cultural extremism. Mothers exhibited higher levels of cultural extremism, while fathers showed higher levels of religious and political extremism. Individuals with lower educational attainment demonstrated higher levels of intellectual, political, and social extremism. Intellectual, cultural, and social extremism was more prevalent among those with lower income levels. Strategies to confront intellectual extremism were widely implemented, with intellectual immunization being the most frequently used strategy, followed by dialogue and participation, critical thinking, life experience, and digital monitoring. Intellectual immunization was more common among those with secondary education, while dialogue and participation were more prevalent among those with intermediate education. A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between protection strategies against intellectual extremism and the level of extremism itself.
Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of raising children with love and acceptance, fostering constructive societal dialogue on complex issues, and safeguarding them against harmful ideological influences.
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