Transcript Document

Mind of a Terrorist
Dr. Stephen Link
Professor of Psychology
Brookhaven College
[email protected]
Social Sciences
Refers to the academic disciplines concerned
with society and the relationships among
individuals within a society.
Anthropology
Political Science
Geography
Psychology
History
Religion
Philosophy
Sociology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_science
PSYCHOLOGY COURSES
PSYC 2301 General Psychology
Survey of major topics in psychology. Introduces the study of behavior and the factors that determine and
affect behavior.
PSYC 2302 Applied Psychology
Survey of the applications of psychological knowledge and methods in such fields as business, industry,
education, medicine, law enforcement, social work, and government work.
PSYC 2306 Human Sexuality
Study of the psychological, sociological, and physiological aspects of human sexuality.
PSYC 2314 Lifespan Growth & Development
Study of the relationship of the physical, emotional, social and mental factors of growth and development of
children and throughout the lifespan.
PSYC 2315 Psychology of Adjustment
Study of the processes involved in adjustment of individuals to their personal and social environments.
PSYC 2316 Psychology of Personality
Study of various approaches to determinants, development, and assessment of personality.
Lecture Objectives
• Define Terrorism
• Discuss the Importance of Changing
Perception
• Describe the Process of Terrorist Mind
Development
Questions for You
• How can someone be persuaded to kill
others?
• Can this perceptual persuasion happen to me
or some one close to me?
• Does the process of perceptual conversion
happen in other groups?
• What policies could be developed to deter the
development of terrorists?
Terrorism FBI Definition
• There is no single, universally accepted,
definition of terrorism. Terrorism is defined in
the Code of Federal Regulations as “the
unlawful use of force and 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” (28 C.F.R. Section 0.85).
Can someone be persuaded to kill
others?
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It is all about PERCEPTION
How do we know what is true and
real?
What do you Perceive?
What do you perceive?
Perception is based on
• BioPsychoSocial Interactions
Brain Formations
Conditioned Thinking
Environmental Influences
Terrorist or Freedom Fighter
• The oft-repeated statement 'One man's
terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'
reflects genuine doubts about what
constitutes 'terrorism'.
Social Cognition
All people operate on their own
internal map of reality, not on
reality itself.
Perceptual Dualism
• Suicidal Bombers
• Crazed Sociopaths
• Terrorists
• Martyrs
• Holy Warriors
• Freedom Fighters
Social Cognition
What is Real/True?
Suicide
• Feel hopelessness and
depression.
• End intense and unbearable
pain.
• Others consider suicide
undesirable.
• Others attempt to
discourage behavior and
feel guilt and shame if it
occurs.
Martyrdom
• Feel hopefulness about
afterlife.
• Further the cause …a heroic
sacrifice.
• Others consider the act as
heroic.
• Others encourage the
behavior for family pride
and give social and financial
support.
You can drastically change some one’s
perception.
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How can a person change their
perception so drastically?
OKC Bombing Timothy McVeigh
CNN Interview
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cheK22wcdw
Process of Terrorist Mind Development
Perceived Unfairness
Perceived Options to Fight Unfair Treatment
Seeking Others
Recruitment/Perceptual Persuasion
Conversion/Commitment to the Organization
Mission of Martyrdom
Perceived Unfairness
• Poverty and lack of education are problematic
but not predicative.
• Perceived injustice and the feeling of frustration
and shame.
• Perceived personal deprivation.
• Fraternal deprivation other societies have
reached this goal we have not.
Frustration
Syriana Clip 1
• Pakistani migrant workers Saleem Ahmed Khan and his son
Wasim board a bus to go to work at a Connex refinery, only to
discover that they have been laid off due to a Chinese
company outbidding Connex for the rights to run the facility.
Since the company has provided food and lodging, the
workers face the threat of poverty and deportation due to
their unemployed status. Wasim desperately searches for
work but is refused because he doesn't speak Arabic.
Key Elements to Fight Unfair
Treatment
• Plato warned of the inevitable collapse of any
society if it does not allow the rise of talented
individuals in the social hierarchy and
conversely the downward mobility of the less
talented who are born to those in power.
• Equity principal important I can get ahead and
efforts will be rewarded.
• No options ! Emotions build.
Do you feel that you have an
opportunity to change your life?
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Key Element
Emotional Reaction
which
Decreases/Overrides
Logic/Critical Thinking
Easier to Manipulate/Persuade
Seeking Others
In times of Distress we Affiliate
• Solace and comfort in knowing that I am not
alone. Same values and views. You are one of us.
• Psychological/emotional connections are met.
• Great empathy and sympathy given.
• Blame injustice on targeted group.
• Can be done in person or via the internet.
• Make an emotional connection with a soon to be
mentor/group.
Perceived Unfairness
• Fairness matters the most. I cannot achieve
what the media presents of affluent and
democratic lifestyles.
Reactions to Perceived Unfair
Treatment
• Lack of Empowerment
• Feelings of Helplessness
• Feelings of Hopelessness
• Anger
• Blame Others
Syriana Seeking Others
clip 2
• A very frustrated Wasim and his friends join
an Islamic school for food and learn Arabic, in
order to improve their employment prospects.
Recruitment
Perceptual Persuasion
• Groups offer answers by supplying continual
righteous information.
• Development of US vs. Them Attitude. Labeling
• Persuaded to be committed to the morality of the
group.
• Develop a parallel life… keep this a secret.
• Isolation, affiliation, secrecy and fear.
• Feel powerful hope and have a sense of purpose.
• Powerful Charismatic Figure Appears.
Mentor
Syriana clip 3
• While playing soccer, they meet a charismatic
Islamic fundamentalist cleric
Commitment to the Organization
Perceptual Conversion
• Usually end parallel life. “Live” the organization to
be trained. All information is tightly controlled.
Constant bombardment of 24 hours of social
categorization.
• Terrorists act in a prosocial manner, both
believing themselves to be serving society and
judged by their in-group to be acting in its
interest.
• Groups use Social Conformity , Social Obedience
and Confirmation Basis
Social Conformity
• Social Conformity is a type of social influence
involving a change in belief or behavior in order
to fit in with a group.
• This change is in response to real (involving the
physical presence of others) or imagined
(involving the pressure of social norms /
expectations) group pressure.
http://www.simplypsychology.org/obedience.html
Social Obedience
• Obedience is a form of social influence where
an individual acts in response to a direct order
from another individual. This person is
perceived as an authority figure.
• http://www.simplypsychology.org/obedience.html
• Enthusiastically identify with the groups
leader or agenda.
Confirmation Bias
• is a tendency for people to favor information
that confirms their preconceptions. The label
becomes truth regardless of reality.
Commitment to the Organization
• Reduction of Inhibitory Mechanisms.
• Social Categorization: Those people. Civilians
acts of violence are justified because they are
the enemy.
• Development of emotional anchors – hypnotic
suggestions. Drugs?
• No opportunity to leave alive.
• Strong Emotional Reactions
Hopefulness/Angry Leads to
Righteousness
Righteousness
is a feeling or way of life that is all
about doing the right thing.
Distorted Perception
Does the process of terrorist
(perceptual) conversion happen in
other groups?
Does the process of perceptual
conversion happen in other groups?
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Cults
Military
Social Groups
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Organized Religion
Politics
Abusive Relationship
Dysfunctional Families
All of the above
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Factors Leading to Action
• Modern weaponry decreases personal contact.
• Psychological distancing using terrorist myths do
not provide a spark to get people to recognize
their actions.
• Victims are not aware of attack and cannot
induce inhibitory mechanism.
• Contact person reinforces perception. Use
anchors such as icons, visualizations, emotional
feelings.
Action: Emotional Context
Angry Becomes
Hatred
Blinding
Revenge
Never Ending
I am not a Terrorist
I am a Freedom Martyr
Action
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMs2FYd
HSrg
martyrdom
The Process of Ideological
Development
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It’s Not Right
It’s Not Fair
It’s Your Fault
You’re Evil
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Borum, David. (2003) Understanding the Terrorist Mind-Set. FBI Law
Enforcement Bulletin, July 2003, 7-10.
• Let’s Get THEM
What can be done to deter the
development of terrorists?
Short Term Policy Implications
• Defensive - Increased Security
• Offensive - Military and Cyber attacks.
• Use of Social Media and Global Media to
Change Perception
• International Aid Program
• Support Democratic Processes - Equality
Long Term Policy Implications
Reduction of Inequality
Equal Participation
Awareness Education of Us- Them
Mentality
Justice Promoted
Interobjectivity
understanding shared within and
between cultures
Salient Elements to Eliminate
Perceptual Persuasion
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Be Educated
Stay Aware
Emote and Release Emotional Energy
Maintain Hope
Motivate Yourself
Think Critically
References
• Atran, S. (2003, March 7). Genesis of suicide
terrorism. Science, 299, 1534–1539.
• Bandura, A. (2004). The role of selective moral
disengagement in terrorism and
counterterrorism. In F. M. Moghaddam & A. J.
Marsella (Eds.), Understanding terrorism:
Psychosocial roots, causes, and consequences
(pp. 121–150). Washington DC: American
Psychological Association.
References
• Borum, David. (2003) Understanding the
Terrorist Mind-Set. FBI Law Enforcement
Bulletin, July 2003, 7-10.
• Moghaddam, F. M. (2005). The Staircase to
Terrorism. A Psychological Exploration
American Psychologist, Vol. 60, No. 2, 161–
169.
Questions
Stephen Link Ph.D.
[email protected]
Brief History of Terrorism in the United States
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1978-1995—The Unabomber
1993—The First World Trade Center Bombing
1995—Oklahoma City Bombing
1996— Centennial Olympic Park Bombing
2001—9/11
2001—The Shoe Bomber
2001—Anthrax Attacks
2002—The Beltway Sniper
2006—SUV Attack at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
2009—NYC Subway Bomb Plot
2009—Fort Hood Shooting
2009—Little Rock Recruiting Office Shooting
2009—Underwear Bombing Attempt
2010—Times Square Bombing Attempt
2013—Boston Marathon
http://www.nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/a-brief-history-of-terrorism-inthe-united-states-20130416
Research Findings on Elements of
Terrorist
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Wants change of some kind but feel powerless to have effect or impact.
Feel alienated, disenfranchised or angry.
Feel a need to take action when talking becomes ineffective or no one listens.
Believe that their efforts are not immoral.
Has family or friends sympathetic to a shared cause.
Feels that joining a movement or acting alone empowers them bringing psychological rewards,
adventure, a heightened sense of identity and perhaps camaraderie.
Some actually believe a violent act may attract positive attention to their cause.
Lone wolves and large groups both feel a need to strike out if they perceive their lifestyle or culture
is in jeopardy.
Revenge is a popular criterion for terrorist violence.
In almost all cases, lone wolves are male.
Lone wolves are known to be lonely people who want to be heard.
Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/steps-authentic-happinesspositive-psychology/2013/apr/18/inside-mind-terrorist-where-do-they-come/#ixzz2dHcBj9RA
History of Terrorism
• The history of terrorism dates back at least 1500 years when Jewish
resistance groups (66 - 72 A.D.) known as Zealots killed Roman
soldiers and destroyed Roman property. The term assassin comes
from a Shi'ite Muslim sect (Nizari Isma'ilis - also known as
hashashins "hashish-eaters") fighting Sunni Muslims (1090 - 1275)
and during Medieval Christendom resisting occupation during the
Crusades (1095-1291). The hashashins were known to spread terror
in the form of murder, including women and children. The
brotherhood of Assassins committed terror so as to gain paradise
and seventy-two virgins if killed and to receive unlimited hashish
while on earth. The modern development of terrorism began during
the French Revolution's Reign of Terror (1793 - 1794). During this
period the term terrorism was first coined.
1920: Wall Street Bombing
30 people died , hundreds injured, destroyed Morgan Building
During a series of protests linked to the Sons of Liberty,
colonists burn and sack the house of the Massachusetts
lieutenant governor, Thomas Hutchinson.
Muslim Support of Osama bin Laden?
• Title 22 of the U.S. Code, Section 2656f(d)
defines terrorism as “premeditated, politically
motivated violence perpetrated against
noncombatant targets by subnational groups
or clandestine agents, usually intended to
influence an audience.” [1]