The mind of terrorist

Sreejeethaa. SM,Sc. Applied Psychology

Pondicherry University

DEFINITION

The United Nations General Assembly  (1994) "Criminal acts intended or calculated to

provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons for political purposes are in any circumstance unjustifiable, whatever the considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or any other nature that may be invoked to justify them."

TYPE OF TERRORISM

Domestic terrorism involves groups whose terrorist activities are directed at elements of the government without foreign involvement.

International terrorism involves groups whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside.

HOW ARE TERRORIST FORMED?SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY social learning of the acceptance of

terrorist violence may also take a didactic form, as in the teaching of an extremist form of Jihad in many Pakistan and Palestine madrasas-religious school of the young Muslim boys.

FRUSTRATION-AGRESSION THEORY Political psychologist John Chowing Davies

(1973) has stated “Voilence is always a response for frustration”.

RELATIVE DEPRIVATION THEORY Economic disparities could also cause

terrorism. If the entire in-group (that of the political

factor) faces relative disparities relative to an out-group, political voilence would be a group-identity phenomenon.

OPPERSSION THEORY The injustice treatment of the government

that robs their identity, dignity, security and freedom as the motive of their joining a terrorist group.

NATIONAL CULTURAL THEORY Weinberg and Eubank – the collectivistic are

more likely than the individualistic to carry out the terrorist attack on the out group.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES

Identity theory Identity crisisEg: Charles Bishop

HUMILIATION-REVENGE THEORY Palestine psychologist Eyad el Sarraj (2002) has

specifically observed that humiliation is an important factor for young suicide bombers.

Eg: Abdul Aziz Rantisi

“ To die in this way is better than to die daily in frustration and humiliation”

NARCISSIM THEORY Humiliation leads to damage of self esteem

(narcissistic injury) , later that would lead to the destroy of source of damage (narcissistic rage)

NOVELTY-SEEKING THEORY ‘ Romance for risk’ Terrorist planning and execution is

indisputably thrilling actions outside the realm of ordinary experience.

Israli prime minister , Yitshak Shamir “that period in the underground was the best part of my life”

THUS TERRORISM IS BORN IN THE MIND OF AN INDIVIDUAL…

CONCLUSION Terrorism is designed to make a point,

through psychological means, FEAR. Fears are educated into us & can, if we wish, be educated out. — Karl A.

Menninger

Similarly, “ terrorism are educated into us & can, if we wish, be educated out”

REFERENCES

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07272007/alqaeda.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312031/hs/totinfo.htm

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda http://www.surrey.ac.uk/politics/research/rese

archareasofstaff/isppsummeracademy/instructors%20/The%20Terrost%20mind.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_terrorism

http://www.coedat.nato.int/publications/datr2/05_Ozgur%20Ozdamar.pdf

THANK YOU!!