Radicalized

 
      At the present time, this term describes someone who has been swayed or converted to an extreme section of a philosophy or religion, usually Islam, even though mainstream Muslims would disagree with these radical beliefs.  A  radicalized person may have been led to extreme beliefs through personal contact at home or abroad or through the internet.  They may participate in acts of violence, murder, and suicide.
     What we consider as radical can vary, but we usually don't recognize this type of thinking within our own belief systems.  Most of us consider our beliefs as reasonable and fairly ordinary.  When we place ourselves on either extreme of a controversial issue, our ideas may seem radical to many people, especially to the opposing view.  Liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, very religious or agnostic, your opposite may consider you radical.  The more you try to persuade others to your "extreme" views by using emotional appeals with promises of rewards, the more radical you appear.  You may feel you need to radicalize others in order to change their minds, get their votes, or save their souls.
     Better to try to understand others.  Encourage them to try to understand all points of view and to aim for compromise when necessary.  Instead of swaying others with emotion to convert them to your point of view, encourage them to use rational thinking and logic.  Being radicalized reduces the ability to think clearly and act wisely.