Deconstructing terrorism - psychology and the state (original) (raw)
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Psychology of terrorism… A review Introduction
Terrorism is an age-old phenomenon. Mankind has witnessed acts of terrorism in some form or the other throughout history. But the ferocity of the 9/11 events in USA has totally changed the worlds’ understanding of the word ‘terrorism’. The day to day increase in the terrorist acts all over the world, made terrorism a global problem threatening the very existence of human race. Obviously lots of time and energies are being spent to counter and control this monster. Modern research, unlike the earlier studies that have focussed more on the political roots of terrorism, dwells on the psychological underpinnings of this menace. Present review is an attempt to briefly summarise the available information on terrorism and the related matters
The Psychology of the Terrorist
Journal of Trauma Practice, 2002
In this paper, I propose to examine some of the basic issues involved in terrorist behaviour. In order to achieve this aim, I want to set about answering five basic questions. Firstly, are terrorists mad? That is, are they suffering from a clinically diagnosable condition? Secondly, if they are not mad, then how can we understand the terrorist mind more fully? Thirdly, how can the psychologist's understanding of the terrorist mind help us to learn to manage terrorism more effectively? Fourthly, how can we identify trends in terrorist behaviour in order to be more effectively prepared, and fifthly, how can we move towards reducing and eventually eradicating terrorist activity in general terms?
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. This special issue of American Psychologist presents a series of articles that showcase new conceptual, theoretical and empirical advances in our understanding of terrorism. In doing so, it seeks to not merely summarize recent accomplishments but to highlight the immense value of explicitly psychological research on these issues, far more of which is called for to realize the potential for informing solutions.
[Seven psychosocial principles to explain terrorism]
Psicothema, 2007
Research approaches leading to the understanding of the terrorist phenomenon are suggested. Seven principles explaining terrorism are analysed from a psychosocial approach: They could complete the explanations of terrorism focused in socio-structural and psychological variables, the latter being insufficient and often erroneous. Thus, terrorism is presented as a strategy of political influence, and the psychological attributes of terrorists are explained as the result of several influential social processes. We considered that terrorist attacks and campaigns correspond to strategic reasons, but we also assume that the rationality of the terrorists perspective is limited. As far as the organisational parameters are concerned, we propose an analogy with ordinary social movements, especially relating to their ideological frameworks of legitimisation and resource mobilization processes.