This article examines the overused notion of radicalization and analyzes the research that has been done so far on the subject. Drawing on examples from diverse Islamist and nationalist conflicts and struggles, this article seeks to propose a more general and objective view of the notion of radicalization, one that has until now been exclusively associated with research on Islamic jihadists. At the same time, the article also attempts to present a new way to analyze the phenomenon of progressive military involvement, favoring a step by step analysis and focusing on certain determinant factors. The article considers means of socialization and adaptation to violence from both a sociological and a psychological perspective, insisting on the link between the need for violence and the enhancement of one’s self esteem.