Behavioural aspects of terrorism.

Behavioural and social sciences are useful in collecting and analysing intelligence data, understanding terrorism, and developing strategies to combat terrorism. This article aims to examine the psychopathological concepts of terrorism and discusses the developing roles for behavioural scientists. A systematic review was conducted of studies investigating behavioural aspects of terrorism. These studies were identified by a systematic search of databases, textbooks, and a supplementary manual search of references. Several fundamental concepts were identified that continue to influence the motives and the majority of the behaviours of those who support or engage in this kind of specific violence. Regardless of the psychological aspects and new roles for psychiatrists, the behavioural sciences will continue to be called upon to assist in developing better methods to gather and analyse intelligence, to understand terrorism, and perhaps to stem the radicalisation process.

[1]  Anson Shupe,et al.  Cults in Our Midst: The Hidden Menace in Our Everyday Lives , 1995 .

[2]  Everard M. Phillips.  The Business of Kidnap for Ransom , 2009 .

[3]  Marc Sageman,et al.  Understanding terror networks. , 2004, International journal of emergency mental health.

[4]  Jerrold M. Post,et al.  Terrorist psycho-logic: Terrorist behavior as a product of psychological forces. , 1990 .

[5]  Nathan J. Gordon,et al.  Effective Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques , 2001 .

[6]  Margaret Wilson.  The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology: Terrorism research: current issues and debates , 2010 .

[7]  A. Silke.  The Psychology of Suicidal Terrorism , 2008 .

[8]  Reflections on international terrorism: Issues, concepts, and directions. , 2004 .

[9]  Jerrold M. Post,et al.  The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda , 2007 .

[10]  Terrorist Networks and Small Group Psychology , 2009 .

[11]  J. Horgan.  Deradicalization or disengagement? A process in need of clarity and a counterterrorism initiative in need of evaluation , 2009 .

[12]  Joshua Sinai,et al.  The Mind of the Terrorist: The Psychology of Terrorism from the IRA to Al-Qaeda , 2009 .

[13]  J. Victoroff.  Tangled Roots: Social and Psychological Factors in the Genesis of Terrorism , 2006 .

[14]  Jennifer M. Brown.  The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology: Professional practice , 2010 .

[15]  Gus Martin,et al.  Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies , 2007 .

[16]  John Horgan,et al.  Terrorism and Organized Crime: A Theoretical Perspective , 2009 .

[17]  John Horgan,et al.  The search for the terrorist personality. , 2008 .

[18]  Marc Sageman,et al.  Leaderless Jihad , 2011 .

[19]  D. Whittaker.  The Terrorism Reader , 2003 .

[20]  J. Horgan.  Deradicalization or Disengagement , 2010 .

[21]  T. Weiss,et al.  Terrorism and the UN , 2004 .

[22]  D. Canter.  The faces of terrorism : multidisciplinary perspectives , 2009 .

[23]  Aidan Kirby,et al.  The London Bombers as “Self-Starters”: A Case Study in Indigenous Radicalization and the Emergence of Autonomous Cliques , 2007 .

[24]  R. Schouten.  Terrorism and the Behavioral Sciences , 2010, Harvard review of psychiatry.

[25]  Mali Soibelman.  Palestinian suicide bombers , 2004 .

[26]  A. Silke.  Terrorists, Victims and Society , 2003 .

[27]  R. Lifton.  Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of Brainwashing in China , 1962 .

[28]  S. Atran.  Mishandling Suicide Terrorism , 2004 .

[29]  S. Moskalenko,et al.  Mechanisms of Political Radicalization: Pathways Toward Terrorism , 2008 .

[30]  H. Edger,et al.  Coercive Persuasion: A Socio-Psychological Analysis of the “Brainwashing” of American Civilian Prisoners by the Chinese Communists , 1963 .

[31]  Brent E. Turvey,et al.  Introduction to Terrorism: Understanding and Interviewing Terrorists , 2011 .

[32]  William Safire.  Safire's Political Dictionary , 1978 .

[33]  E. Hickey,et al.  Serial Murderers and their Victims , 1991 .

[34]  F. Moghaddam.  The staircase to terrorism: a psychological exploration. , 2005, The American psychologist.