Psychology of Terrorism

Question 1

What are the key readings?

Answer 1

Moghaddam (2005)
Silke & Brown (2016)

Question 2

What are the key points from Moghaddam (2005)?

Answer 2

There are floors to terrorism

Question 3

What is on the ground floor?

Answer 3

This is where everyone exists in society, but some feel dissatisfied due to perceived injustices (e.g., economic inequality, discrimination, or political oppression).
Individuals compare their situation to others and feel frustration when they perceive unfair treatment.

Question 4

What is on the first floor?

Answer 4

Those who feel that society does not offer fair opportunities begin searching for ways to address their grievances.
If the political or social system does not provide legitimate avenues for change, individuals may lose trust in institutions.

Question 5

Who spoke about the first floor?

Answer 5

Taylor & Moghaddam (1994)
Tyler (1994)

Question 6

What did Taylor & Moghaddam (1994) say about the first floor?

Answer 6

One of the psychological factors that shape behaviour is individuals’ perceived possibilities for personal mobility to improve their situation

Question 7

What did Tyler (1994) say about the first floor?

Answer 7

One of the psychological factors that shape behaviour is procedural justice

Question 8

What is on the second floor?

Answer 8

Individuals start blaming an external group (e.g., governments, ethnic/religious groups, or political enemies) for their struggles.
Leaders or ideologues reinforce these frustrations, guiding individuals toward “us vs. them” thinking.

Question 9

What is on the third floor?

Answer 9

Individuals who reach this floor make a psychological commitment to an extremist cause.
Recruitment into terrorist organisations happens through social networks, online propaganda, and direct recruitment.
New members undergo indoctrination, cutting them off from outside perspectives and making them feel part of an elite group fighting for justice.

Question 10

Who spoke about the third floor?

Answer 10

Bandura (2004)

Question 11

What did Bandura (2004) say about the third floor?

Answer 11

Terrorist organisation can mobilise sufficient resources to persuade recruits
They become disengaged from morality and are morally engaged
Morality is constructed by the terrorist organisation

Question 12

What is on the fourth floor?

Answer 12

Members justify violence through moral disengagement, believing terrorism is a necessary and justified action.
The group isolates members from alternative viewpoints and reinforces commitment to the cause.
Individuals feel trapped in the organisation, believing there is no way out.

Question 13

What is on the fifth floor?

Answer 13

The final stage, where members commit acts of terrorism.
Tactical planning, weapons training, and actual attacks take place.
Psychological mechanisms

Question 14

Who spoke about the fifth floor?

Answer 14

Grossman (1995)

Question 15

What did Grossman (1995) say?

Answer 15

The experience of professional military units demonstrates the intensive programs required to train soldiers to kill enemy soldiers

Question 16

Who conceptualised helping behaviour?

Answer 16

Latane & Darley (1970)

Question 17

What did Latane & Darley (1970) say about helping?

Answer 17

Conceptualized helping behavior as the outcome of five choices that lead an individual either to help or not help others in an emergency

Question 18

Who looked at fraternal deprivation?

Answer 18

Gurr (1970)

Question 19

What did Gurr (1970) say about fraternal deprivation?

Answer 19

Fraternal deprivation is more likely to arise when group members feel their path has been blocked to a desired goal that their group deserves and that others possess

Question 20

Who looked at psychology’s responsibility to combat terrorism?

Answer 20

Moghaddam & Marsella (2004)
Schlenger et al (2002)

Question 21

What did Moghaddam & Marsella (2004) say about psychology’s responsibility to combat terrorism?

Answer 21

The actions of terrorists are intended to bring about specific psychological experiences—that is, terror and helplessness

Question 22

What did Schlenger et al (2002) say about psychology’s responsibility to combat terrorism?

Answer 22

terrorism often has extremely harmful psychological consequences (

Question 23

What are the key points from Silke & Brown (2016)?

Answer 23

The term ‘radicalisation’ gained prominence after the September 11 attacks, becoming central to discussions on how individuals adopt extremist ideologies leading to terrorism.
Radicalisation is characterised as a multifaceted and evolving process where individuals come to embrace violent ideologies in support of political or religious causes.
Role of identity, perceived injustice and group dynamics influence individuals towards extremist beliefs
Caution against oversimplifying radicalisation
Understanding the radicalisation process is vital for developing effective counter-terrorism strategies

Question 24

Who looked at particular dispositions?

Answer 24

Post (1987)

Question 25

What do individuals with particular dispositions tend to do? (Post 1987)

Answer 25

They are drawn to the path of terrorism. ## Footnote Post, 1987

Question 26

Who looked at common assumptions about terrorists?

Answer 26

Schmind & Jongman (1988)

Question 27

What is a common assumption about terrorists according to psychological theories? (Schmid & Jongman 1988)

Answer 27

The terrorist is not normal and insights from psychology and psychiatry are keys to understanding. ## Footnote Schmid and Jongman, 1988

Question 28

Who looked at Andrea Baader?

Answer 28

Cooper 1978 Rasch 1979

Question 29

How is Andreas Baader characterized in terms of psychological traits? (Cooper 1978)

Answer 29

Extremely manipulative and a pathological liar, displaying psychopathic traits. ## Footnote Cooper, 1978

Question 30

What was found regarding the psychological classification of Baader? (Rasch 1979)

Answer 30

Nothing justified their classification as psychotics, neurotics, fanatics, or psychopaths. ## Footnote Rasch, 1979

Question 31

What is the common characteristic of terrorists according to Crenshaw?

Answer 31

Their normality. ## Footnote Crenshaw, 1981

Question 32

What is the key point about the causes of radicalization?

Answer 32

No single root cause can be identified; a range of factors facilitates the process. ## Footnote None specified

Question 33

What happens from a natural disaster or personal loss?

Answer 33

1. Desire or motivation (Want): They may feel more or less driven to act. 2. Ability: They might feel more or less capable of doing things. 3. Action (Doing): Their behaviour may change—they might stop doing certain things or start focusing intensely on just one thing (monomania). 4. Possibilities: They may feel like their future options have shrunk or changed.

Question 34

What is the outcome from natural disasters or personal loss?

Answer 34

Turning to legal political or religious activities, like activism (which can become radicalised), Or engaging in illegal political or religious actions, which can also become radicalised.

Question 35

What is the relationship between mental illness and lone actor terrorists?

Answer 35

1/3 diagnosed mental disorders before attack; does not mean they are irrational. ## Footnote None specified

Question 36

What does the presence of a mental disorder indicate about a terrorist's rationality?

Answer 36

It may help rationality. ## Footnote None specified

Question 37

What are proximal risk factors in the context of mental illness and radicalization?

Answer 37

Mental illness is more at risk but not at the forefront at the time of activity. ## Footnote None specified

Question 38

What proportion of terrorists attempted to recruit others and help get weaponry

Answer 38

1/3 1/4 ## Footnote None specified

Question 39

How does online interaction compare to face-to-face interaction among terrorists?

Answer 39

Interact online more likely to interact face to face. ## Footnote None specified

Question 40

What is a common sentiment regarding ideology in terrorism?

Answer 40

'You always try to bring religion into it.' ## Footnote None specified

Question 41

Who looked at the phoenix model?

Answer 41

Silke et al 2021

Question 42

What is the 'Phoenix Model' in relation to terrorism?

Answer 42

A counterinsurgency strategy used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War to dismantle Viet Cong support networks. It focused on intelligence gathering, covert operations, and targeting local sympathizers and insurgents. The model aimed to isolate and neutralize insurgent infrastructure, but faced criticism for human rights violations.

Question 43

Who looked at the limitations of psychology of terrorism?

Answer 43

Crenshaw (1981)

Question 44

What did Crenshaw (1981) find?

Answer 44

Critical assessment of the available evidence suggests that there is little validity in explanations of terrorism that assume a high level of psychopathology among terrorists