Psychology of Terrorism: Classic and Contemporary Insights

ISBN-13: 9781841694641 / Angielski / Twarda / 2009 / 512 str.

Jeff Victoroff;Arie W. Kruglanski

Opis

Substate terrorism now represents one of the gravest threats to human civilizations. As the frequency of interstate wars has declined since the end of WWII, terrible violence against innocent civilians is increasingly perpetrated by non-state groups with extreme agendas and virtually no restraints. Why do people become terrorists? Are terrorists crazy? Simply evil? Normal people driven to extremes? What social factors and tensions are most likely to provoke terrorist behaviors? And how can we use our rapidly growing understanding of the psychology of terrorism to anticipate the coming attacks and protect the international community?

Psychology of Terrorism is a definitive collection of the best classic and contemporary writings about the mind of the terrorist. Carefully selected by a panel of world-renowned authorities for value and readability, this exquisite collection provides the reader with deep knowledge and unique insights into the ideas, feelings, and social influences of modern terrorist groups. General readers who wish to understand this deadly phenomenon, students and scholars of human psychology or political science, and decision makers facing the challenge of designing effective counterterrorism policies will enjoy and profit from these essential readings and the inescapable conclusion they suggest: by ignoring the psychology of terrorism, Western nations have been making grave errors in the so-called war on terrorism. Understanding the deep roots of terrorist behaviors gives us tools that are absolutely vital to any effort in reducing this escalating threat.

Spis treści

Introduction. Part 1. What is Terrorism and How Can Psychology Explain It? Iviansky, Individual Terror: Concept and Typology. Reich, Understanding Terrorist Behavior: The Limits and Opportunities of Psychological Inquiry. Kruglanski, Fishman, The Psychology of Terrorism: “Syndrome” versus “Tool” Perspectives. Victoroff, The Mind of the Terrorist: A Review and Critique of Psychological Approaches. Part 2. Why Would One Want to Become a Terrorist? Terrorists’ Personality and Motivation. Silke, Cheshire Cat Logic: The Recurring Theme of Terrorist Abnormality in Psychological Research. Post, Sprinzak, Denny,  The Terrorists in Their Own Words: Interviews with Thirty-five Incarcerated Middle Eastern Terrorists. Moghadam, Palestinian Suicide Terrorism in the Second Intifada: Motivations and Organizational Aspects. Atran, Genesis of Suicide Terrorism. Pape, The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism. Pedahzur, Perliger, Weinberg, Altruism and Fatalism: The Characteristics of Palestinian Suicide Terrorists. Part 3. Why Would One Want to Become a Terrorist? Possible Economic or Political Origins of Terrorism. Krueger, Maleckova, Does Poverty Cause Terrorism? Li, Does Democracy Promote or Reduce Transnational Terrorist Incidents? Reinares, Who are the Terrorists? Analyzing Changes in Sociological Profile among Members of ETA. Part 4. Why Would Terrorists Enjoy Wide Popular Support? Levin, Henry, Pratto, Sidanius, Social Dominance and Social Identity in Lebanon: Implications for Support of Violence Against the West. Sidanius, Henry, Pratto, Levin, Arab Attributions for the Attack on America: The Case of Lebanese Subelites. Pyszczynski, Abdollahi, Solomon, Greenberg, Cohen, Weise, Mortality Salience, Martyrdom, and Military Might: The Great Satan Versus the Axis of Evil. Part 5. How Does One Become a Terrorist? Social and Psychological Factors in Terrorism. della Porta, Recruitment Processes in Clandestine Political Organizations: Italian Left-wing Terrorism. Sprinzak, The Psychopolitical Formation of Extreme Left Terrorism in a Democracy: The Case of the Weathermen. McCauley, Segal, Social Psychology of Terrorist Groups. Merari, Friedland, Social Psychological Aspects of Political Terrorism. Sageman, Understanding Terror Networks. Part 6. Is Terrorism Rational? A Logical Perspective. Crenshaw, The Logic of Terrorism: Terrorist Behavior as a Product of Strategic Choice. Sandler, Tschirhart, Cauley, A Theoretical Analysis of Transnational Terrorism. Part 7. Is Terrorism Evil? Wardlaw, Justifications and Means: The Moral Dimension of State-sponsored Terrorism. Juergensmeyer, Islam’s “Neglected Duty”. Part 8. How Can Terrorism Be Overcome? Atran, Soft Power and the Psychology of Suicide Bombing. Hafez, Hatfield, Do Targeted Assassinations Work? A Multivariate Analysis of Israel’s Controversial Tactic During Al-Aqsa Uprising. Kaplan, Mintz, Mishal, Samban, What Happened to Suicide Bombings in Israel? Insights from a Terror Stock Model.