Psychological and Behavioral Factors of Individual Terrorists

Terrorism and Psychology
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Terrorism and Psychology
Terrorism can be defined as acts of violence committed by individuals or groups against civilians for political reasons. Society views terrorism as immoral and destructive. Even though many people associate terrorism with violent and inhuman acts, it persists. As a result, researchers are seeking to understand what motivates terrorists. They have discovered that one of the most prominent factors that contribute to terrorism is psychological factors, behaviors, and structural underpinnings. Psychological factors and behaviors contributing to terrorism include: how one perceives and processes reality, interacting with personalities with radicalized behaviors, and perceived threat situations. In addition, research has linked terrorism to collective identity and the need to improve society. Therefore, understanding the psychological processes that lead to terrorism creates a better understanding of terrorism, which is essential in helping prevent and develop more effective policies against terrorism.
Psychological interpretations of justice play a vital role in terrorism. When local cultures feel their group is being mistreated, individuals among the group are likely to rise against this injustice. According to McCauley & Moskalenko (2017), many Muslims in the UK and US view the fight against terrorism as a fight against Islam. They found that 5% of Muslims in these Nations viewed terrorism as justified violence. It is necessary to examine the psychological processes these people undergo to understand where these beliefs stem from. These beliefs arise from the fact that many Muslims feel oppressed, resulting in the need to improve this situation. Perceived oppression leads to feelings of deprivation, which necessitates one to join a group that can help achieve the perceived perfect sense of justice. While many individuals do not act on this need, those who do may resort to violent acts like terrorism.
Many studies agree that terrorism stems from an individual's perception of justice and deprivation at individual and group levels. Terrorism has many stages, but the universal step is the perception of injustices in society, which leaves individuals helpless and frustrated when they feel they cannot change these injustices. Consequently, the individual begins to look for solutions to improve their situation. When they find that there are limited or no possibilities for individual mobility or influencing the decision-making processes, they begin to feel angry and frustrated (Moghaddam, 2005). The individuals are particularly vulnerable at this stage as it opens a doorway that allows terrorist leaders to influence and persuade them. The leaders make them feel they sympathize with their situations and can do something about it. At this stage, individuals begin to see terrorism as justifiable. They see it as a means to an end and a tool to achieve greater justice. Finally, to act on their beliefs, they dehumanize their enemy (usually civilians) and move to execute terrorist acts. It is worth noting that not all individuals who perceive injustice and experience depravat...