The Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism: Who becomes a Terrorist and Why?

Rex A. Hudson, Federal Research Division, Library of Congress1410212777, 9781410212771

CONTENTS Preface Executive Summary: Mindsets of Mass Destruction New Types of Post-Cold War Terrorists — New Forms of Terrorist-Threat Scenarios Introduction Terms of Analysis Defining Terrorism and Terrorists — Terrorist Group Typologies Approaches to Terrorism Analysis The Multicausal Approach — The Political Approach — The Organizational Approach — The Physiological Approach — The Psychological Approach General Hypotheses of Terrorism Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis — Negative Identity Hypothesis — Narcissistic Rage Hypothesis The Psychology of the Terrorist Terrorist Motivation — The Process of Joining a Terrorist Group — The Terrorist as Mentally Ill –The Terrorist as Suicidal Fanatic — Fanatics — Suicide Terrorists — Terrorist Group Dynamics — Pressures to Conform — Pressures to Commit Acts of Violence — Terrorist Rationalization of Violence — The Terrorist’s Ideological or Religious Perception Terrorist Profiling Hazards of Terrorist Profiling — Sociological Characteristics of Terrorists in the Cold War Period — Characteristics of Female Terrorists — Female Motivation for Terrorism Conclusion Terrorist Profiling — Terrorist Group Mindset Profiling — Promoting Terrorist Group Schisms — How Guerrilla and Terrorist Groups End Appendix — Sociopsychological Profiles: Case Studies Exemplars of International Terrorism in the Early 1970s — Exemplars of International Terrorism in the Early 1990s — Ethnic Separatist Groups — Social Revolutionary Groups — Religious Fundamentalist Groups Tables Educational Level and Occupational Background of Right-Wing Terrorists in West Germany, 1980 — Ideological Profile of Italian Female Terrorists, January 1970-June 1984 — Prior Occupational Profile of Italian Female Terrorists, January 1970-June 1984 — Geographical Profile of Italian Female Terrorists, January 1970-June 1984 — Age and Relationships Profile of Italian Female Terrorists, January 1970-June 1984 — Patterns of Weapons Use by the Revolutionary Organization 17 November, 1975-97 Glossary Bibliography