As such, this book will present empirical and theoretical frameworks for understanding fear as a dynamic process that motivates and affects people on a myriad of levels, from the individual to. This report analyzes and synthesizes what has been reported from the scientific and professional literature about the psychology of terrorism. This product is out of stock, and cannot be ordered online at the moment. This can take a number of different forms, and may be fairly benign and easily ignored or more severe and adversely affect numerous other. These organizations inspire, radicalize, and recruit followers. Psychology of terrorism american psychological association. Special issue of the apa journal american psychologist, vol. Psychological factors in terrorism and counterterrorism. The growing use and manipulation of modern communications by terrorist organizations have led communication and terrorism scholars to reconceptualize modern terrorism within the framework of symbol. The psychology of terrorism what makes young men prepared to kill for a cause. We describe two very different cases of lonewolf terrorism.
Local, national, and international stability and security remain fragile. Hamden 3 yet suffered a deliberately planned major atrocity against self, family, community, or all, is the retributional terrorist. Yet, current jihadist terrorism is of major contemporary interest because of its global scope and the clear and present danger it poses to the international community. Mar 27, 2020 psychological terrorism is typically a form of terrorism that primarily targets peoples psychological well being and state of mind, with the intent of having a negative impact on those people. Sep 16, 2014 psychological theories of terrorism terrorism has existed for long even before the advent of recorded history. John horgans the psychology of terrorism is one of the best applications of a social science discipline in this case, psychology to explain the drivers that motivate individuals to become terrorists, function as terrorists, and, in ideal cases, disengage from terrorism.
Library of congress federal research division the sociology and psychology of terrorism 1 executive summary. Terrorism is also emotive both because experiences of terrorist acts arouse. They have to do with individuals motivations for joining a terrorist. Scholarly articles were identified by a search for the term terrorism in the following databases. How 100 years of gang research can inform the study of terrorism, radicalization and extremism.
Sep 07, 2006 during the past decade, we have witnessed a dramatic transformation in the nature and uses of terrorism. Library of congress federal research division the sociology and psychology of terrorism. This book explores how psychology can improve our understanding of terrorism and counterterrorism. The purpose of this book is to unpack the complexity of terrorism fears, and to present a new paradigm for understanding the psychology of terrorism. Apartfroma drive for truth, political psychological theory advises that the better a target group understands the roots. The articles showcase new conceptual, theoretical, and empirical advances in our understanding of terrorism.
However, many terrorists do report feelings of doubt, persecution, and insecurity. The notion of terrorism is applied to a great diversity of groups with different origins and goals. Israelis were more likely to condone violence against palestinians. This special issue of american psychologist presents a series of articles that showcase new conceptual, theoretical, and empirical advances in our understanding of terrorism. The topic of terrorism is both complex and emotive. Data and theoretical material were gathered from the worlds unclassified literature.
Further research conducted by start codirector kruglanski sheds light on the role a collectivist mentality may play in terrorism. To place an order or to receive additional ordering information, please call the order department at 18003742721. Despite how old it is, what we know about terrorist motivations and psychology is. Terrorism occurs in wealthy countries as well as in poor countries, in democracies as well as in authoritarian states. Terrorism clearly indicates that the nature of man has not changed, but three significant issues including commerce globalization, transfer of information and travel. Thus, there exists no single root cause of terrorism, or even a common set of causes.
Itwould seemappropriate for thescholarly disciplinesof psychology and psychia try to bring their intellectual resources to bear on the political problem of terrorism, a problemthatstrippedtothebasicsisoneofatypicalhumanbehavior. Project title publication date start authors publication type im down for a jihad. Although acts of terrorist violence are conducted by individuals or small groups, such actors typically belong to broader organizations. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The psychology of massmediated terrorism gabriel weimann, 2008.
Jun, 2017 researchers point out that in particular narcissism, inflated selfesteem or lack thereof, lack of empathy towards other people, history of abuse and humiliation, reduced affect display or frequent emotional outbursts or increased irritability may in fact contribute to vulnerability to terrorism and extremism in general. The understanding of terrorism and psychological implications are essential in order to comprehend psychological and motivating factors surrounding the root of terrorism, which is. To understand the psychology of those who engage in terrorism, john horgan draws on interviews with terrorists and analyzes current evidence to argue that only by asking the right questions about this complex problem, and by answering them with evidence, can we truly begin to understand the nature of terrorism and respond effectively. Jul 08, 2018 terrorism is not a particularly new problem its been a part of the world since civilization first organized. The individual, the group and the psychology of terrorism. Mindsets of mass destruction new types of postcold war terrorists in the 1970s and 1980s, it was commonly assumed that terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction wmd would be counterproductive because such an act. The usual definition of terrorism is something like the use or threat of violence, by small groups against noncombatants of large groups, for avowed political goals. Apr 07, 2020 jessica stern has spent more than 20 years interviewing terrorists and other perpetrators of violent extremism around the world, in the field and in prisons.
Psychological research is not only relevant but also essential to understanding this issue. Indeed, the psychology of terrorism has become one of psychologys major growth markets. Thats the question former prosecutor ken ballen set out to tackle when he traveled to saudi arabia. The psychology of extremism what motivates someone to become a terrorist. By attempting to identify, describe, and evaluate what contribution psychological theory or research may. Terrorism as a category of violence in a global war on terrorism, it is important to ask what we mean by terrorism. Thats the question former prosecutor ken ballen set out to.
Psychinfo 18872003, sociological abstracts 19742003, medline. It is complex because it combines so many different aspects of human experience, including subjects such as politics, psychology, philosophy, military strategy, and history, to name a few. Psychology of terrorism social psychology iresearchnet. This new edition of the psychology of terrorism will be essential reading for students of terrorism and political violence, and counterterrorism studies, and recommended for forensic psychology, criminology, international security and ir in general. Terrorism is not a particularly new problem its been a part of the world since civilization first organized. Despite the extraordinary social and political consequences often associated with terrorist violence, as well as our responses to it, psychological research on terrorist behavior is conspicuously underdeveloped. The book starts by exploring the psychology of terrorists. In the 70s, it was often repeated that terrorists want a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead. Undoubtedly, a comprehensive psychology of terrorism should transcend individuallevel analyses. T he root of modern terrorism go back to late 19 th century, but at the threshold of the 21 st century this phenomenon has reached unprecedented proportions and has become a menace to civilized societies worldwide. She believes that combating violent extremism requires an understanding of the psychology of terrorists and why they do what they do. Pdf terrorism as an act of violence involves a vast and multifactorial network of sociopolitical causes.
The psychology of terrorists will be a welcome addition to psychologists, terrorism researchers, criminal profilers, investigators and intelligence professionals, counter and anti terrorism experts, as well as military, security and law enforcement professionals tasked with protecting individuals from acts of terrorism. Lonewolf terrorism is a growing concern for security and a puzzle for social science. Two psychological perspectives on terrorism are distinguished, approaching it as a. Request pdf on dec 14, 2007, randy borum and others published psychology of terrorism find, read and cite all the research you. Ta askatasunaeta, the palestinian terrorist groups, and the ltte all have strong nationalistic motivations, whereas the islamic fundamentalist and the aum shinrikyo groups are motivated by religious beliefs. Department of homeland security dhs science and technology directorates office of university programs and human factorsehavioral sciences division hfd through start.
Radicalization, violent extremism, and terrorism pose the most critical existential threat to humanity in the 21st century. The terrorist incidents see online chsacfei timeline of terrorism were not qualified by terrorist types. Cover of psychology of terrorism special issue of american psychologist. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. The subject is so confounded by problems of diversity, complexity, and definition that any simplifying approach is bound to tempt one to use it beyond.
The psychology of terrorism and radicalization 3 mission. Persistent issues in 1990, a volume on the psychology of terrorism concluded with two essays on the opportunities for and limitations on future research crenshaw, 1990. The psychology of terrorism 10 years after september 11. Psychologists are amassing more concrete data on the factors that lead some people to terrorismand using those insights to develop ways to thwart it. Pdf from psychology of terrorists to psychology of terrorism. An outstanding collection of thoughtprovoking and sometimes controversial essays. Considerable economic, military, political, and scientific resources are devoted these days to the war on terrorism. Dr james forest, combating terrorism center, us military academy at west point, usa not only has andrew silke provided the first textbook on the psychology of counterterrorism, but he has provided a gold standard for all others to follow. Pdf the psychology of counterterrorism andrew silke. Though terrorism has manifold aspects addressable by numerous scientific disciplines, it can be viewed as essentially rooted in human psychology. Truly fundamental questions about terrorism are psychological and sociopsychological in nature. Psychological theories of terrorism premium assignment help. The uk prime minister david cameron has explained the problem of islamic terrorism in terms of a poisonous narrative of extremism which is being fed to young people.
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