Terrorism is not synonymous with extremism. One can be an extremist, hold and express extreme political or religious views and, rightly so, not be considered a terrorist. Extremists hold views that are either on the “far” right or “far” left on a spectrum and are only open to ideas that confirm their beliefs. It's a question of black or white. Moving from simply holding extremist views to joining a terrorist group or committing a terrorist act is facilitated by several psychological and behavioral factors that are different for each individual. Through their roles as educators and facilitators, the leaders of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates exploit the psychology of defeat, generational and transnational transmission. Religious leaders preach with such zeal and confidence that their interpretations leave no room for questioning. This can be a reassuring factor for someone who is wondering about their place in society. According to Hofmann and Dawson, acts of violence are acceptable according to the teachings of these charismatic leaders because they claim to be divinely inspired and act according to the will of God (Hofmann & Dawson 2013?, 350). These teachings taught by clerics can be broadcast around the world via the Internet and have become an effective strategy for recruiting people to their cause. This strategy forms the basis of a terrorist cell that can work independently of the organization while maintaining its overall goals. This “leaderless resistance” is a term coined by a prominent figure in the white supremacist movement (Hoffman 2006: 115). It has been adopted by many existing terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda, and has proven to be an effective tactic. Ironically, this has provided terrorist group leaders with a means to expand their jihadist movement on an ever-increasing global scale.