Introduction
One of the most complex aspects of counterterrorism (CT) for the intelligence community (IC), law enforcement (LE), and CT communities is the psychology of terrorism. In the broad study of the psychology of terrorism, a highly misunderstood and challenging subject area is the recruitment of terrorists. A “normal,” rational person would wonder why an individual would pledge to commit acts of terror that would inflict lethal or grave danger upon innocent civilians for a politically educed cause. When in matter of fact, that rational person could also be susceptible to recruitment by a terrorist organization based upon any anti-political ideologies they may hold against their respected government. There are many reasons an individual may want to join a terrorist organization which includes aspects associated to an individuals psychology, ideology, theology, and state of mind. It also includes factors like an individuals religion, culture, morals, influences, integrity, and environment. More specifically terrorists go through a top-down or bottom-up process to enter the life of a terrorist and either have a strategic choice or psychological forces which make them susceptible to terrorism and recruitment. For IC, LE, and CT professionals the psychology of terrorist group recruitment is gravely important because it will allow them to identify indicators of individuals who are at a particular point in the recruitment process, who are already recruited, and who may also be planning attacks against U.S. assets, infrastructure, and personnel. Terrorism is a serious threat to national and homeland security and it all starts with a terrorist recruitment. If an individual is identified, exploited, or neutralized before ...
... middle of paper ...
...gy of an individual entering the life of a terrorist include environmental and religious.
Works Cited
CSIS (2007). Pathways to Muslim Radicalization. Retrieved from https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/security-and-global-studies-common/Intelligence%20Studies/INTL450/content/week3/450-wk3-CSIS_PathToTerror_Sep2007.pdf (accessed 25 May 2014).
Federal Bureau of Investigation (2014). Definitions of Terrorism in the U.S. Code. Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/terrorism-definition (accessed 25 May 2014).
Jaber, H. (1997). Inside the world's most secretive and deadly organization: Hezbollah Born with a Vengence. New York: Columbia University Press.
Reich, W. (1998). Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind. Washington, D.C.: The Woodrow Wilson center Press.
Federal Bureau of Investigation -Definition. (2013, August 20). FBI. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/terrorism/terrorism-definition
The FBI defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives (fbi.gov).” By this definition, terrorism can be classified as internal or international based on the overall intent of the attack. Terrorism has been around since the beginning of time, but it’s only since 2011 that the world has come to fully understand the meaning of terrorism. The following paragraphs will highlight four different types of terrorist attacks that all took place within the United States spanning over a 40 year time period.
Robert Fisks’ article “The cult of the suicide bomber” , published in 2008, addresses the rise and a cult like glorification of suicide bombers in the Middle East. Fisk posits that this increase is, in part, due to the US and their coalition forces declaration of a ‘war on terror’.
More and more in the world today, circumstances have brought about changes in how members have used radical protesting. One way used to protest a situation is through terrorism, and the people who exercise violence in the pursuit of what they hold to be just causes are alternately known as terrorists. This movement, although viewed as barbaric, requires a person to view the needs and goals of a particular cause to be greater than that of the well being of others. There are certain characteristic traits that can be found in the majority of terrorism, which can identify a profile of a terrorist’s mind. A terrorist is not just an insane person, but also possibly a person that has been forced either by personal decision or by situations beyond control to choose an “insane” method to achieve an unachievable goal.
Despite numerous high-profile terrorist attacks that have been committed by individuals operating independently from terrorist groups, little attention has been given to explaining how these lone actor terrorists can emotionally perform violent acts against others. Recent studies of violence suggest that micro-level situational factors are essential in emotionally enabling violent action. Perhaps the most critical factor is enabling violence is situational emotional dominance. This dominance is most often established through several group dynamics that include an entrainment with the physical and emotional states of confederates, mutual monitoring (a form of peer pressure), as well as the role of emotionally supportive observers. Indeed, Collins highlights the
What internally drives a terrorist’s motivation varies from subject to subject. While the average American citizen would likely be quick to point terrorists hate the western way of life and what it represents, the issue is far more complex. Simon Cottee’s article “What Motivates Terrorists?” (2015), looks at various levels of motivation. Prior definitions of terrorism looked at the defining cause as possibly psychological abnormalities within in the individual (Cottee, 2015). As studies have evolved, the focus has shifted to the environment in which the terrorist is surrounded. While certainly there is cases in which a person who is mentally unstable could be an ideal target for terrorist propaganda, the number of cases involving mental
Terrorism has been significantly on the rise over the past several years, making it one of the major concerns for governments and security organizations. The identity of terrorists and the activities perpetrated by them have been associated with certain races, religious affiliations and other geographical parameters, with little concern to understand the development of these characteristics among humanity. Most individuals have classified terrorists as being members of specific races and hence developed fallacious theories that associate terrorism with genetic makeup and other mental problems.
Herman, E. & Sullivan, G. O.1989. The Terrorism Industry: The Experts and Institutions That Shape Our View of Terror. New York: Pantheon.
Just like any other criminal organization, terrorist groups are going to adjust to law enforcements tactics to stop them. Specifically, it is expected that the styles of attacks actually will actually decrease in size, although possible increase in quantity (Walter & Xuejuan, 2007). United States combined efforts of infiltrating, and interrupting the flow of money has had a dramatic effect on the organizational structure of terrorist hierarchies. Specifically, terror organizations have adapted to function efficiently has separate cell factions to prevent the loss of one individual being detrimental to their cause. While this method has resulted in the some groups to operate off the grid, it has also resulted in their inability to launch
Hezbollah is a right wing, sociological, psychological, religious terrorist organization. Hezbollah provides an environment to protect and grow its cause through cultivation of its community by prescribed religious and academic teachings to develop a national and religious identity. Use of religious rhetoric combined with the demonization of all who do not subscribe to their specific brand of Islamic Shiitism; Hezbollah is able to re-enforce its fanatical military wing while maintaining a productive infrastructure. (Hezbollah – Capabilities And Role In The Middle East (Full Documentary))
In the past, it was common place for scholars to classify terrorist acts as pathological manifestations of an individual’s own psychological shortcomings.
Terrorism has been around for centuries and religion-based violence has been around just as long. (Hoffman, 2). The violence was never referred to as terrorism though. Only up to the nineteenth century has religion been able to justify terrorism (Hoffman, 2). Since then, religious terrorism became motivated and inspired by the ideological view (Hoffman, 3). Therefore, it has turned against the main focus of religion and more towards the views of the extremist and what is happening politically (Winchester, 4).
Terrorism is one of the most extensively discussed issues of our time and at the same time it is also one of the least understood. The term itself “terrorism” means many different things to different people, cultures, and races. As a result, trying to define or classify terrorism with one universal definition is nearly impossible. The definition of terrorism used in this research is a reflection of much of the Western and American way of defining it. The definition of terrorism is,
Early precedents of history of terrorism go back to the Sicari, an extremist Jewish faction during the Roman occupation of Palestine in 73 CE. The commander of the Sicari led the communal suicide of the mountainous fortress Masada on the shore of the Dead Sea. Instead of giving themselves up to slavery of the victorious Roman forces over 960 Jewish men, women, and children chose suicide. (1)
On September 11, 2001, the destruction of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon changed the mindset and the opinion of nearly every American on the one of the most vital issues in the 21st century: terrorism (Hoffman 2). Before one can begin to analyze how the United States should combat such a perverse method of political change, one must first begin to understand what terrorism is, where it is derived from, and why there is terrorism. These issues are essential in America’s analysis of this phenomenon that has revolutionized its foreign policy and changed America’s stance in the world.