...The social aspect of terrorism goes very deep for the terrorist especially those in the middle-eastern countries. The social view addresses the in-group/out-group bias as well as the fundamental attribution error. The in-group/out-group bias refers to the tendency for individuals to identify themselves as a particular group, placing all others in opposing groups. In the case of terrorism, a trained terrorist may think they are good and righteous, but all others (including those that do not practice their cultural norms or religious expectations) are among the out-group. By defining themselves as an in -groups, it makes it easier for an individual to act out against those they consider a out-group member. The creations of in and out groups are fabricated at a young age. In the case of countries known for frequent acts of terrorism, their society teaches their inhabitants to hate out-groups, defining them as targets of destruction. Taylor & Horgan (2006) describe this phenomenon as “the incremental process through which youngsters become committed insiders of counter-culture youth groups” (p. 581). To be more basic in explanation, societal pressure and norms create terrorists. The old adage, “it takes a village to raise a child,” is true when it comes to making a terrorist. The social attitude of that community becomes a part of who ever lives in that area and therefore, sets the way they think. Another perspective is the view of Behaviorism. The Behavioral view...
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...nonviolent political action (activism) or to illegal and violent political action (radicalism). An extreme of radicalization is terrorism, in which a nonstate group targets not only government forces but civilian citizens supporting the government. !"#$%&'&()*'+"(,+&-./0+(1/2#,/&'(.#,/-#$/3#'/)"(#&(+/'2+.(4')5-,)6"7().(40)'')8-957(:;#B&((#'"!#'*-*11%$&(>#*N!*'0#%-$"11#!+*#B+"(*#&'14$;*'!#'*!B"$6.8 5. What is the Role of Emotion in Radicalization? The literature on radicalization tends to emphasize cost/benefit calculations, but many have noted the salience of emotions such as anger or outrage, shame, and humiliation in political conflict. Research on emotional aspects of radicalization is needed. For instance, it is not clear whether hate is an emotion or a powerful form of negative identification that can be the occasion of many emotions - both positive and negative - depending on what is happening to the target of hatred (Royzman, McCauley, & Rozin, 2005). Similarly, it is not clear whether humiliation is a distinct emotion or a synergism of more fundamental emotions such as anger and shame (Lindner, 2006). 6. How Does Martyrdom Contribute to Political Radicalization? Many have noted the power of martyrdom for political mobilization, and there is a significant literature that asks how individuals are encouraged or recruited to give their lives in suicide terrorism (Merari, 2004; Speckhard &...
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...The Psychology of Hate: How We Deny Human Beings Their Humanity This world cannot coexist with terrorism. Be it hijackings, bombings, hostage crises or sieges, terrorism has become a dark form of hatred in our decaying world; this petrifying presence of violence is one of the most distinctive challenges that our civilization has yet to solve. All of these violent acts of terrorism stem from manifestations of hatred and intolerance of those who are different from us; it fractures societies at a fundamental level, which results in constant turmoil and upheaval. Innocent lives are being lost and it is inexcusable. The phenomenon of such radical violence must be fully ridden if we wish to create a united world where we can all harmonize with one another. Nevertheless, it all begins with hatred; an emotion of intense hostility and animosity. With adverse consequences, hate is generally attributed to an extreme desire to ultimately remove or destroy the neglected object. Numerous psychologists have speculated complex theories to what they merely call, “the psychology of hate”. Unlike many emotions, hatred is an exclusively learned feeling; human beings are not born to imperatively hate random entities, yet it has become one of the most common reoccurring sensations among our life experience. Feelings of extreme hostility and prejudice are now a common reflex for those who we regard to be different than us; these differences tend to be racial, religious, economical or cultural...
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...What is more important in determining terrorists’ motives: the psychology of the individual or the sociological impact of the group? I feel it is more important to look at the psychology of an individual when determining terrorists’ motives. If you can figure out the why they are doing these things then you can determine what type of sociological impact they are aiming for. Thus determining their motives for their actions. In chapter 4 of Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, Cindy Combs talks about why people become a terrorist. She talks about how the individuals identify with the leaders, members of groups, and also with those that have suffered. These individuals then feel the need for revenge and avengement of the wrongs done to them. On page 67 of the above mentioned text in a statement from Osama Bin Laden on Al Jazeera he explained how thankful he was that America was now feeling the same pain that the Islamic people had been feeling for 80 years. This shows that revenge was a major factor in his actions. Combs also talks about (pp73-74) how the individuals view the world. That terrorist are now coming from low income areas because it is their only way to lash out and respond to the government/ world around them. In The New Global Terrorism (p99) Martha Crenshaw talks about individual motivation and participation. She explains how the individual’s views can justify terrorism. Such as it they see the government corrupt and unjust then they can justify their acts...
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...Social Influences on Human Behavior Social psychology shows the way a person’s behaviors are influenced by the social environment. Social psychology includes people’s own attitudes, attributions, attractions, group behaviors, conformity, and obedience. It also includes schemas, biases, stereotypes, and attitudes toward others. (Sullivan, 2009) The 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States had a big impact on some Americans’ attitudes toward Muslims living in the United States. The terrorists involved in the attack were all Muslim Arabs. The United States has an estimated 6 million Muslims. ("America's muslims," 2006) When the attacks happened, U.S. Muslims were shocked just like all other Americans. After the attacks, many of the U.S. Muslims had to deal with the hateful attitudes toward them coming from other Americans. Many Americans’ bad attitudes toward Muslims intensified into rage and anger after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Any Muslim Arab fit the description of a terrorist in the eyes of many Americans. This led to biases and stereotypes of U.S. Muslims being associated with terrorist activity. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, American Muslims have experienced increased job discrimination since 2001. They have also found that Americans with Muslim names have a harder time finding a job. (Epstein, 2011) Anti-terrorism measures such as surveillance of Muslim organizations have left the Muslim community uneasy and victims of discrimination. Many...
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...Nuclear War vs Terrorism During the early to mid-1900’s the threat that Americans were under from war was evident and frightening. The process of preparing for war against us is better than trying to prepare for a terrorist attack. The threat of terrorism today scares Americans more now than ever. The FBI website separates the term of terrorism into “Domestic Terrorism” and “International Terrorism”. Both definitions include similar content such as “acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law,” (Federal Bureau of Investigation). Terrorism attacks usually are a single event or multiple single events made by the same group towards innocent citizens of a nation. Terrorist attacks are more likely to be surprising attacks by a group or type of people that are defending or promoting a certain religious or political issue. Nuclear war would not be a good thing in these times, especially towards other countries that have limited resources. Nuclear weapons produce more than just geographic harm and economic turmoil, but it also causes severe pollution and health concerns. Some products used to build nuclear weapons are carcinogenic and can pose serious health among those who live near ground zero of a nuclear attack. “History, psychology, and common sense strongly suggest that nuclear war is more probable than most of us would like to believe. This, and the cataclysmic quality of nuclear war, imply that humanity can scarcely afford another half a century in the...
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...Terrorism came from the word of ‘terror’ which mean to horror and to fear. There is no specific definition about the meaning of terrorism. This is because the field that related inside terrorism is very wide and there are over 100 definitions of ‘terrorism’ according to studies. Terrorism have been existed for many years as a global phenomenon, but only in few decades ago that it has been getting stronger and to influence our daily lives with any costs. In our report, we will explain more details about the relationship of terrorism and transportation. Transportation has always been a target or method for terrorism to transfer their message to the public. While transportation keeps economic moving, nationally and globally, business relies on transport and transport systems at every level no matter transferring goods, transporting customers or staff commuting. From jet airliners to mass transit buses and rail terminals, vehicles and transport facilities are all-too familiar targets of terrorist attacks in all country and abroad. The impact of large-scale disruption of transport infrastructures can be critical for national and global business because transport systems have long been viewed as targets for terrorists groups worldwide. Also we will elaborate more on how terrorism can be spread or being use through the four methods of transportation like rail, road, aviation and maritime. For the incident strikes on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York on September 11, 2001,...
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...Female Suicide Terrorism Abstract This article examines the phenomenon of female suicide terrorism. Women involvement in terrorism and political violent acts is not a recent phenomenon but the ever growing number of women involved and the universal belief of the nonviolent character of women, constitute sufficient reasons to analyze this gender shifting in terrorism. Introduction Women involvement in terrorism and political violent acts is not a recent phenomenon but the ever growing number of women involved and the universal belief of the nonviolent character of women, constitute sufficient reasons to analyze this gender shifting in terrorism. The purpose of this analysis is to attempt an explanatory view of the fundamental of female suicide terrorism in Islam. This study will focus on the study of Palestinian female suicide terrorism as the Palestinian example seems to constitute an appropriate pars pro toto. Indeed, as stated by Corocan-Nantes in her article “Unnatural beings: Gender and terrorism,” “in most of the major works on the study of terrorism there is no mention of gender despite the fact that in the last decade there has been a noticeable increase in the study of 'female terrorism.'” The common belief being to associate terrorist acts to men. Counter-Terrorism Strategy The Female suicide terrorism is real security threat that requires our full attention. A comprehensive counterterrorism plan should recognize the increasing potential for use of suicide...
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...the society what is right and what is wrong are huge. We either support some rules or do not. People often argue about their beliefs, no matter if they are religious or not. Such example could be given in history. To clarify, history is the study of the human past. It is a field of research which uses a narrative to examine and analyse the sequence of historical events, and it sometimes attempts to investigate objectively the patterns of cause and effect that determine past events. On the other hand, ethics is the branch of philosophy that addresses morality, that is, what is right and wrong, good and bad, honorable and dishonorable. A link between the two could be made as the example of terrorism is used. “Terror” comes from the Latin terrere meaning “to frighten”. The term “terrorism” means the systematic use of terror especially as a means of intimidation. It was first used in ancient...
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...A Historical View on Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies A Historical View on Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies Terrorism is a unique and frightening form of violence. Terrorism does not care if it is a time of peace, conflict, or war. One can never escape the threat of terrorism and it will most assuredly happen when one least expects it. A terrorist act is committed to bring down a great deal more than just a few buildings. Terrorists have what they believe with all their hearts to be a purpose behind their actions. Quite often there is such a deep rooted hatred imbedded into their souls that they feel they must act against the evils that haunt their lives (U.S. Army, 2000). The Department of Defense defines of terrorism as "the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological" (U.S. Army, 2000). To put it into more simplistic and understandable terms, terrorism is committed for generally three main reasons: 1. Terrorist are against multi-party governments such as in the United States. 2. Terrorists are against specific religious groups. 3. Terrorists are against a person of a specific race. Terrorists come in every shape and size and terrorism is a tactic that may be used by any philosophy or by people with no philosophy at all, only objection. To assume there is a terrorist handbook that...
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...but also very real political, social, religious, and economic factors, among others. These factors vary widely”. Accordingly, the motivations, goals, and ideologies of ethnic separatist, anarchist, social revolutionary, religious fundamentalist, and new religious terrorist groups differ significantly. (Hudson, 1999) Therefore, each terrorist group must be examined within its own cultural, economic, political, and social context in order to better understand the motivations of its individual members and leaders and their particular ideologies. (Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, 1999, para. 54) I will use Hudson’s assertion as my theoretical framework to analyze if my findings are compatible with a plausible assertion that terrorism is based off social and political views of the people who see their current state as unjust. The National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional or ELN) is a revolutionary guerrilla army; who have fought in the Colombian Civil War since it began in 1964. The ELN advocate a composite Communist ideology of Marxism and Liberation Theology. The ELN was founded by Fabio Vásquez Castaño and other Colombian rebels trained in Communist Cuba; upon the Vásquez Castaño death, the ELN was headed by a series of Roman Catholic priests, exponents of Liberation Theology. (Brittain, 2010) Most notable was the Priest Camilo Torres Restrepo, a university professor, egalitarian and Marxist, who was openly critical of the grossly unequal distribution...
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...Final: Terrorism Terrorism activity is heavier in certain areas of the world do to the differences in religion for example the Chiite vs. Sunnis, their differences come from thinking that one belief is better than that of the others. Other regions are affected because of their faith, the government, resistance against democracy, and one area is under control by a group and not the other, also because of the lack of order and organization of that area. What the common link of terrorist activities is based on the logic that they have all failed the United States foreign policy. The foreign policy agenda of the department of state is to make more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. "Wikipedia" (2013) “ The United States House Committee on foreign affairs states a few of its jurisdictional goals which are: export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware; measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safe guard American business abroad; international commodity agreements; international education; and protection of American citizens abroad and expatriation” (para. 2). No laws, procedures, or organizations, national or international could have prevented any attacks. The 2009 Shooting in Fort Hood Texas that resulted in 56 wounded and killed, was an act of international terrorism. Thousands of car bombings, suicide bombings, and attacks on civilians...
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...commission's conclusions, include Dershowitz's "fourth road." Abstract After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America, numerous articles and books were published. These articles and books analyzed why the 9/11 attack happened and proposed solutions on how to prevent terrorist attacks in the future. Alan Dershowitz contributed to this body of literature from a lawyer's perspective in his book titled Why Terrorism Works: Understanding the Threat, Responding to the Challenge. In an article from the book titled, Should the Ticking Time Bomb Terrorist Be Tortured, many of his suggestions such as the use of torture, are rather controversial; however, Dershowitz encourages people to rethink current notions of security, liberty, and international law. Alan Dershowitz acknowledges that he is not an expert on terrorism; his opinions, suggestions and methods in his articles and books were written using his lifetime of experience in crime and violence from the perspective of a defense lawyer and a professor of criminal law and knowledge of psychology. HLS 410 OL 009 FINAL PROJECT Alan Dershowitz is a professor of law at Harvard Law School, a civil libertarian, and a staunch advocate of First Amendment causes. He is a...
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...events have forced military medical and physiological experts to re-evaluate their understanding of mass casualty terrorism. The primary goal of terrorism is to disrupt society by provoking intense fear and shattering all sense of personal and community safety. When a terror attack occurs in the USA the impact from the attack is felt economically. Whether the attack be nuclear or biological. From the point of view of threatened governments there has been two tasks: first, to try to prevent the terrorist event from taking place and second, if prevention fails, to deal with the after-effects or consequences, (Heymann, Philip 2001) including the remarkably large political effect of acts of terrorism. Although terrorists plan is to spread as much fear into citizens of the United States of America, our security continues to strengthen and we become stronger as a nation. Through advances in technology and the use of special resources, hopefully one day we can stop all terrorist attempts thus making more peace on earth. When a terrorist strikes it is to make a statement or to keep citizens in their houses and to try and disrupt our life from the normalcy. A car bomb or a backpack full of explosives is all it can take to cause mass panic and casualties. A way to combat this is to stay vigilante and go about our lives as normal as we can. Deterrence of terrorism...
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...to the counter-terrorism efforts in Singapore. The case of SG-Secure will be illustrated as a national campaign that seeks to rally communal effort in the fight against terrorism. The shift from a risk-centric language to a resilience framework can be understood in two ways. First, it is an avoidance of the fundamental issues of terrorism. Second, resilience rhetoric can produce positive outcomes for both the community and against terrorism. Finally, the paper argues that resilience should be inspected in a cautious lens as over-reliance on the resilience framework can lead to unwanted social exclusion. Terrorism: A Shift from Risk Based Language to Resilience 9/11 was...
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