Case Analysis Paper 1

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anff777

Humanities

Description

8 pages

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

  • Chapters 1 – 2 (Silke)
  • Section 1-4 (Borum) pp 1-21
  • Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism Report (SPT) (Hudson) Page 1-21 Borum, R. (2004). Psychology of terrorism. Tampa: University of South Florida Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism Report (SPT) (Hudson) (these documents will be linked in course e-companion)
  • The Mind of the Terrorist: A Review and Critique of Psychological Approaches
  • Author(s): Jeff Victoroff Reviewed work(s):Source: The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 49, No. 1 (Feb., 2005), pp. 3-42Published
  • Lectures (all from Weeks 1-4)
  • Independent research (various resources for background research on the subject of your profile; minimum of 1 peer-reviewed resource for psychological perspectives)

Introduction

The rationale for this activity is the activation of course knowledge with a real-world application in the psychology of Terrorism.

Activity Instructions

The Case Analysis Paper is due this week. Review the instructions and requirements for the assignment.

This assignment is designed as an exercise in case conceptualization to develop your skill in reviewing and assessing an actual terrorist group. The task is to present a comprehensive formulation which integrates etiology, theory, and research, as they apply to a specific case (a terrorist group).

Choose one of the terrorist group provided in the following links or in the handouts for this activity, or obtain approval for a group not listed:

Terrorist Organization Profiles:

http://www.start.umd.edu/start/data_collections/tops/

Terrorists Lists (Groups):

https://www.nctc.gov/site/groups.html

In a written report explain the following (use as headings in your paper):

  1. Briefly summarize the background of the including group demographics (e.g. year of founding, acts committed, number of members, etc.)
  1. The external or environmental factors (social) that might be relevant in the etiology of the group’s behavior.
  1. The different psychological concepts or perspectives in your readings or independent research which might be applicable to this particular group and how they apply. You can choice one (or more) theory and apply it to the case (e.g. group or social psychology concepts and/or research-“this group’s behavior may be a result of strong social control and obedience aspect.). See readings or research for theory suggestions—need to do independent research as well as course materials).
    1. References are expected for this case paper, but watch use of web-page citations. Research articles and books as references will help you get more points. Wikipedia and like web sites are not acceptable references in an academic paper. One can use government web-sites(as given) for the background research on the groups/persons (subject) of your profile—but theory section references should be from good peer-reviewed references such as an academic book or article.
    2. Remember these papers are to answer the question of “WHY” and “HOW” did this group/person do what they did? What caused it? What were the critical psychological events or processes that laid the foundation for their acts.
  2. What preventative actions or intervention/counterterrorism approaches may have made a difference in this group case? Be sure to cite relevant literature if possible (hint: look at course texts).

To complete this assignment, you will need to be concise in covering each of the above five items.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

  • Minimum of 8 pages (approx. 300 words per page), not including title page or references page
  • 1-inch margins
  • Double spaced
  • 12-point Times New Roman font
  • Title page with topic and name of student
  • References page (various resources for background research on the subject of your profile; minimum of 2 peer-reviewed resource for theoretical perspectives)
  • No abstract needed

Submission Instructions

  1. Click Add submission to select your assignment file.
  2. Then click Add or drag-and-drop your file into the window.
  3. When you are ready to submit the assignment, click Save changes.
  4. Then click Submit assignment.
  5. Click Continue to confirm submission.

Grading and Assessment

This activity will be graded based on the following criteria (out of 100 points):

  1. Background on Case (20 points)
  2. External/environmental factors (20 points)
  3. psychological concepts or perspectives application to case (20 points)
  4. Preventative actions or counterterrorism approaches (20 points)
  5. Details for Paper Assignment: (20 points). Typewritten, double-spaced, in Regular/normal sized type, APA style paper with good references, at least 8-12 pages of text, turned in at due date/time.

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Terrorism Viewed Through Psychology • What is Psychology? The study of human behavior • What is Terrorism? The unlawful use of – or threatened use of – force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives. • What is Counter-Terrorism? The policies, strategies and tactics that states use to combat terrorism and deal with its consequences. 1 8/23/2013 Terrorism Definitions Currently in Use Terrorism is the use or threatened use of force 1910 Terrorism constitutes the illegitimate use of force 1910 Terrorism is premeditated deliberate systematic murder 1910 Terrorism – unlawful use or threat of violence 1910 Terrorism Definitions • Simple: Violence or threatened violence intended to produce fear or cause change. • Legal: Criminal violence violating legal codes and punishable by the state. • Analytical: A specific political and/or social factor behind individual violent acts. • State sponsored: National or other groups used to attack Western or other vested interests. Terrorism Definitions • Vast array of definitions in literature • Common ground – Violence toward civilian populations – Instill fear • May be perpetrated by individuals, groups, governments • Domestic and international 2 8/23/2013 Terrorism Viewed Through Psychology • Why is Psychology relevant? • Essential to understand why humans engage in terrorism in order to prevent terrorism • Why? Behavior is explainable & predictable Psychology Applicable to Terrorist Behavior • • • • • • • Frustration-aggression Displacement behavior (beyond above) Modeling behavior Social contagion (beyond above) Social cognition Moral disengagement Classical and operant conditioning Terrorism Viewed Through Psychology • Walter Laqueur concluded based on more than a quarter century of personal research on the topic: “Many terrorisms exist, and their character has changed over time and from country to country. The endeavor to find a "general theory" of terrorism, one overall explanation of its roots, is a futile and misguided enterprise. ..Terrorism has changed over time and so have the terrorists, their motives, and the causes of terrorism.” (Laqueur, 2003). 3 8/23/2013 Psychology’s Areas of Study • • • • • • • • • • • Psychology of violence Understanding Motivation Frustration, Solidarity Psychopathology Understanding other Cultures Political Psychology Psychology of Religion Socialization Gang Research Mind Control Group Behavior Psychology’s Areas of Study • “There is a broad spectrum of terrorist groups and organizations, each of which has a different psychology, motivation and decision making structure. Indeed, one should not speak of terrorist psychology in the singular, but rather of terrorist psychologies” (Post, 2012). What Is Terrorism? •A complicated phenomenon •Specialized form of political violence •Viscous species of psychological warfare •The target is different from the intended audience •The goal is not to kill, but to make an impact on another •The goal is symbolism Dr. Jerrold Post 4 8/23/2013 Lasting Impact of Terrorism • It has been said that the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 serve to define a generation, much the same as the assassination of President John Kennedy and the end of the Cold War did for previous generations. • This may be a very different form of milestone, however, as this milestone appears to be on-going. Lasting Impact of Terrorism “The violence of the attacks against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon has revealed an abyss of terror that is going to haunt our existence and thinking for years and perhaps decades to come.” Borradori, Philosophy in a Time of Terror, 2003, p. 21 Lasting Impact of Terrorism In the book, Psychological Counterterrorism and World War IV, the authors argue that the attacks of September 11th signaled more than a generational milestone, they signaled the beginning of a new world war - World War IV! Everly & Castellano, Psychological Counterterrorism & World War IV, 2005 5 8/23/2013 Lasting Impact of Terrorism “There’s no greater mental health issue facing us as a nation than the effects of terrorism...” Richard Carmona, MD, US Surgeon General, April 4, 2003 Definitions: Terrorism The way in which one defines terrorism dictates how one thinks about it and how one responds to it. Definitions: Terrorism Terrorism may be understood from several perspectives: From a law enforcement perspective, terrorism may be thought of as the premeditated and unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence as a coercive or punitive agent. From a military perspective, terrorism represents war waged against civilians (Carr, 2002) 6 8/23/2013 Definitions: Terrorism From a psychological/ behavioral perspective, terrorism represents psychological warfare. The explicit goal of the terrorist act is not to kill nor destroy, it is to create a condition of fear, uncertainty, and helplessness as a coercive and/or punitive force. Terrorism is used as a tool to break down the resistance and diminish the will of a population and/or its government. The psychoactively toxic mechanism inherent in terrorism is demoralization. Its behavioral corollary is capitulation (Everly & Castellano, 2005, Psychological Counterterrorism) Terrorism • Vast array of definitions in literature • Common ground – Violence toward civilian populations – Instill fear • May be perpetrated by individuals, groups, governments • Domestic and international Primary Methods Used in Global Attacks, 2008 Source: National Counterterrorism Center, April 2009 7 8/23/2013 Deaths by Method in Global Attacks, 2008 Source: National Counterterrorism Center, April 2009. Classification of Terrorist Groups • FBI system classifies according to political leanings – Right-wing extremists – Special interest extremists • Radical environmental groups – Nuclear/biological/chemical Classification of Terrorist Groups Right-wing Extremists • Antigovernment or racist ideology – Hate crimes and violence • Often prompted to become active by the passage of legislation or by government policy in opposition to their beliefs • Left-wing extremists – Activities evolve from political activism to violence 8 8/23/2013 Classification of Terrorist Groups Special Interest Extremists • Activities revolve around one issue – Violent antiabortion groups • Radical Environmental groups Classification of Terrorist Groups Nuclear/Biological/Chemical • NBC terrorism • Recently accelerated – Greater availability of information and weapons technology • Bioterrorism Deaths by Victim Category in Global Attacks, 2008 Source: National Counterterrorism Center, April 2009 9 8/23/2013 Terrorist Typology Rationally Motivated » Goals of group, consider consequences Psychologically Motivated » Psychological benefit to joining group Culturally Motivated » Fear damage to culture, heritage, religion Terrorist Typology Q: How is terrorism different from other movements that have gained national control? (e.g.. Nazis, Stalin, Italian fascists) A: We need to think of terrorism as a spectrum. The Spectrum of Terrorism 10 8/23/2013 The Spectrum of Terrorism There are different ways to group them: • International v. domestic • Common goal v. lone offender • Religious, political, socioeconomic, criminal or psychopathological (There is cross-over) Dr. Post’s Classification System: 1. Political terrorists 2. Criminal terrorists 3. Psychopathological terrorists Classifications of Terrorism 11 8/23/2013 Political Terrorism • 1. State: The state uses weapons of the state against its own people. (Hitler, Saddam Hussein) • 2. State-supported: The state uses its weapons to attack another country. • 3. Sub-state: A small group within the state is trying to use violence to accomplish its own goal. (6 kinds) Sub-state Terrorism: • 1. Social revolutionaries: rebel against corrupt old ways (e.g. Baader-Meinhof gang in Germany, Weather Underground in U.S. ) Sub-state Terrorism 2. National separatists: trying to carry on the family mission (e.g. Palestinian terrorists, Northern Irelanders) 12 8/23/2013 Sub-state Terrorism Religious Fundamentalists: They kill in the name of God. (e.g. Usama Bin Laden, abortion clinic bombers) " You shall not stand aside while your fellow's blood is shed.'' -Leviticus 19:16 Sub-state Terrorism • 4. New Religion: cults defending new religions, e.g. Shinrikyo in Japan (sarin gas in subway) Sub-state Terrorism • 5. Right Wing: They see the government as the enemy and illegitimate. (e.g. Neo-Nazis, Timothy McVeigh, Klu Klux Klan) 13 8/23/2013 Sub-state Terrorism • 6. Single Issue: e.g. animal rights, ecologic terrorism • (Usually single people willing to kill.) Lone Wolf Terrorists • Lone individuals have their own motivations and agenda. • They are not supported by group activities, but may draw a few coconspirators in with them. • i.e. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. (Oklahoma City Bombing) The Goals of Terrorism “The cause is not the cause” •They are convinced that they’re acting on behalf of the moral character of their group. •They are “agents of righteousness” in the battle between darkness and “truth.” •The cause is the justification for violence. •The cause is an outlet for anger. 14 8/23/2013 Psychological Goals Outlet for anger • • • • • • Convenient vehicle for change Stirs up enthusiasm & excitement Source of hope for the future Provides a sense of power A sense importance & purpose by an identification with a holy cause Overcoming feelings of incompetence: feeling potent/ strong. 15 Labeling Theory Dr. Gordon A. Crews Applied Criminology Relationships of Concepts Increasing Impact of Environment on Behavior Free Will Soft Determinism Hard Determinism Things to Know from this Lecture 1. What is the Labeling Theory? 2. What are it’s strong points and weaknesses? Introduction  Labeling, conflict, and radical theories set out to demonstrate that individuals become criminals because of what people with power, especially those in the criminal justice system do.  Their explanations largely reject the consensus model of crime, on which all earlier theories rested. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 4 Labeling Theory  These theorists viewed criminals not as inherently evil persons engaged in inherently wrong acts, but, rather as individuals who had criminal status conferred upon them by both the criminal justice system and the community at large.  Viewed from this perspective, criminal acts themselves are not particularly significant; but the social reaction to them is. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 5 Labeling Theory Derived from the theory of Symbolic Interactionism An individual’s identity and self-concept are seen as only existing in context of society reacting to it Deals with face-to-face interaction between individuals Concerned only with the symbolic nature of this interaction Labeling Theory (Frank Tannenbaum --1938) process of “making” the criminal is a process of:  The  Tagging  Defining  Identifying  Segregating  Describing  Emphasizing  The very traits complained of Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 7 Labeling Theory (Frank Tannenbaum --1938)  We often evoke in people behaviors that we believe they have  It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy  The behavior does not become “fixed” ~ rather it is formed and reformed, repeatedly Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 8 The Origins of Labeling Theory  Social Interactionists  Charles Horton Cooley  William I. Thomas  George Herbert mead  Self concept is built not only on what we think of ourselves but what other people think of us.  Creation of a criminal is a process:  Given a criminal label, they begin to think of themselves as a criminal and do criminal acts. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 9 “Looking Glass Self” Our own self-concepts are reflections of others’ conceptions of us We often become what others think we are They tell us what we are, by how they interact with us Labeling Theory  Labeling Theory declares that the reactions of other people and the subsequent effects of those reactions create deviance.  Once it becomes known that an individual is an offender, they are segregated and labeled.  Then they associate with others like themselves. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 11 Labeling in the 1960’s  Troubled times in the 1960’s  What all was going on?  Who are really the criminal here?  Protesters or Legislators?  Who makes the rules that define deviant behavior including crime?  Labeling theorists will say the upper class  Very political theory – remember the 1960’s and the times Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 12 Evaluation: Labeling Theory  Petty crime leads to labeling and thus an increase in the seriousness of crime.  Has the opposite effect as well, those that get into trouble once, make a change in their behavior and it doesn't happen again. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 13 Process Identified Primary Deviance Labeled Secondary Deviance Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 14 Basic Assumptions of Labeling Theory   People are constantly involved in behavior that runs the risk of being labeled delinquent or criminal. There are two kinds of deviant acts 1. 2. Primary - Assumes that people first violate a norm by chance or for unexplained reasons. Secondary - After the primary deviation a label as a “troublemaker” is attached which leads to a secondary deviation. (this is the major concern) Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 15 Basic Assumptions of Labeling Theory  Secondary deviance sets in after the community has become aware of the primary deviance.  Once the label has been attached, then the criminal career has been set in motion. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 16 Social reaction Deviant act Negative Label Degradation Ceremonies THE LABELING PROCESS Secondary deviance Deviance amplification Selflabeling Deviant subculture Labeling Theory MAJOR PREMISE STRENGTH People enterthe into law-violating Explains role of society incareers creating when they areExplains labeled for and deviance. whytheir someacts juvenile organize their personalities around the offenders do not become adult criminals. labels. Develops concepts of criminal careers. Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 19 Problems with this Theory?  Does not account for Primary Deviance  Is deviance/crime the only option once labeled?  What about the number that go “unidentified”?  What about the type that likes the label?  What else? Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 20 ANY QUESTIONS? Theories of Crime Causation ~ Gordon Crews, Ph.D. 21 NEW CRIMINOLOGY Dr. Gordon A. Crews Applied Criminology The New Criminology • A shift in the philosophy of Criminal Justice thinking in the 1980s • This “New” Criminology shifts the blame from the individual back to society itself New Criminology (Based on Marx’s Conflict Theory) • The More Unequal the Distribution of Scarce Resources in a System, the More Conflict of Interest Between Dominant and Subordinate Segments in a System • Once the Subordinates Come Together They Will Become Powerful and Will Seek to Change the System Through Revolution Relationships of Concepts Increasing Impact of Environment on Behavior Free Will Soft Determinism Hard Determinism Critical Criminology Crime Is a Natural Response to Existing Social Structure. Elite Control Power and Manipulate the System. Critical Criminology • When we develop a law we must view several things • We must see how it impacts “EVERYONE” in a given society • Any negative impact on any segment must be considered • If negative impact is found then we must change the law Critical Theory of Criminal Law (Richard Quinney) 1. American society is based on Capitalism 2. The State is organized to serve the interests of the ruling class 3. Criminal law is a tool for the state to maintain present order 4. Crime control by police does the same 5. A large lower class must be maintained 6. Only with the collapse of capitalism will society improve Conflict Theory Conflict Over Scarce Resources Is the Primary Cause of Criminal, Delinquent, or Nonconformist Acts Conflict Criminology Interest Group Individual Group A Overlapping Area/ Cause of Conflict Group B Amount of Resources in a System The Conflict Model • Has its roots in rebellion and the questioning of values. • Laws do not exist for the collective good of society but rather for the prosperity of the ruling class elite. The Conflict Model • Conflict Theory and Criminology • People with authority use several forms of power to control society's goods and services: – Police – War power – Economic power – Political power Radical Criminology • Present System Is Based on Power and Privilege • Throw Out Our Present System • Start Over by Redefining Crime and Our Entire Legal System Radical Criminology since the 1970’s • Radical criminology is also called critical, new, and Marxist criminology. • 1973 the first text was published, The New Criminology, formulated new radial criminology. Abolitionist and Anarchist Criminology • Dispute the existing systems of supremacy. • Rejection of state controls, as it focuses on the punitive response of segregative punishment. • Wage war with the establishment with chaos Conflict Theory MAJOR PREMISE CrimeSTRENGTHS is a function of class conflict. Accounts The definition of the law for class is controlledinbythe people differentials crimewho rate. hold social and political Shows how class conflict power. influences behavior. ANY QUESTIONS? 8/30/2014 Lecture Week 2-3 Group Dynamics in Terrorism Social & Group Psychology Primer: Roles and rules Norms Rules that regulate social life, including explicit laws and implicit cultural standards. Role A given social position that is governed by a set of norms for proper behavior. Culture A program of shared rules that governs the behavior of people of a community or society, and a set of values, beliefs, and customs shared by most members of that community. 1 8/30/2014 The obedience study Stanley Milgram and coworkers investigated whether people would follow orders, even when the order violated their ethical standards. Most people were far more obedient than anyone expected. Every single participant complied with at least some orders to shock another person. Two-thirds shocked the learner to the full extent. Results are controversial and have generated further research on violence and obedience. Factors leading to disobedience When the experimenter left the room When the victim was right there in the room When the experimenter issued conflicting demands When the person ordering them to continue was an ordinary man When the participant worked with peers who refused to go on The Stanford prison study Subjects were ordinary college students. They were randomly assigned to be prisoners or guards. Those assigned the role of prisoner became distressed and helpless. Those assigned the role of guards became either nice, “tough but fair,” or tyrannical. Study had to be ended after six days. 2 8/30/2014 Why people obey Entrapment A process in which individuals escalate their commitment to a course of action to justify their investment of time, money, or effort The first stages of entrapment pose no difficult choices. But as people take a step, or make a decision to continue, they will justify that action in order to feel that it is the right one and that they haven’t done anything foolish or unethical. Social influences on beliefs and behavior Social cognition An area in social psychology concerned with social influences on thought, memory, perception and beliefs. Current approaches draw on evolutionary theory, neuroimaging studies, surveys, and experiments to identify universal themes in how people perceive and feel about each other. Attributions Attribution theory Theory that people are motivated to explain their own and others’ behavior by attributing causes of behavior to a situation or a disposition. Fundamental attribution error Tendency to overestimate personality factors and underestimate the influence of the situation. 3 8/30/2014 Biases The bias to choose the most flattering and forgiving attributions of our own lapses The bias that we are better, smarter, and kinder than others The bias to believe that the world is fair Just-world hypothesis: attributions are also affected by the need to believe that justice usually prevails, that good people are rewarded and bad guys punished. Attitudes A relatively stable opinion containing beliefs and emotional feelings about a topic Explicit: Attitudes we are aware of and that shape our conscious decisions and actions Implicit: Attitudes about which we are unaware and that influence our behavior in ways we do not recognize Cognitive dissonance A state of tension that occurs when a person simultaneously holds two cognitions that are psychologically inconsistent or when a person’s belief is incongruent with his or her behavior. 4 8/30/2014 Shifting opinions and bedrock beliefs Familiarity effect The tendency of people to feel more positive toward a person, item, product, or other stimulus the more familiar they are with it. Validity effect The tendency of people to believe that a statement is true or valid simply because it has been repeated many times. The genetics of belief Genes and attitudes Ideological belief systems may have evolved in human societies to be organized along a left-right dimension, consisting of two core sets of attitudes: (1) Whether a person advocates social change or supports the system as it is (2) Whether a person thinks inequality is a result of human policies and can be overcome, or is inevitable and should be accepted as part of the natural order 5 8/30/2014 Methods of indoctrination The person is subjected to entrapment. The person’s problems, personal and political, are explained by one simple attribution. The person is offered a new identity and is promised salvation. The person’s access to disconfirming (dissonant) information is severely controlled. Individuals in groups The need to belong may be the most powerful of all human motivations. This need explains why solitary confinement is considered torture and social pain of being rejected equates to physical pain. Conformity Subjects in group asked to match line lengths. Confederates picked wrong line. Subjects went with wrong answer in one-third of trials. 6 8/30/2014 Groupthink The tendency for all members of a group to think alike for the sake of harmony and to suppress disagreement. Symptoms Illusion of invincibility Self-censorship Pressure on dissenters to conform Illusion of unanimity Counteracted by Creating conditions that reward dissent Basing decision on majority rule The wisdom and madness of crowds Diffusion of responsibility The tendency of group members to avoid taking action because they assume that others will. Deindividuation In groups or crowds, the loss of awareness of one’s own individuality. Bystander apathy Individuals often fail to take action or call for help when they see someone in trouble because they assume that someone else will do so. Altruism and dissent Situational factors in nonconformity You perceive the need for intervention or help. Cultural norms encourage you to take action. You have an ally. You become entrapped. 7 8/30/2014 Us versus them: Group identity Social identities The part of a person’s self-concept that is based on his or her identification with a nation, religious or political group, occupation, or other social affiliation. Ethnic Identity Ethnic identity A person’s identification with a racial or ethnic group. Acculturation The process by which members of minority groups come to identify with and feel part of the mainstream culture. Ethnocentrism The belief that one’s own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others. Aids survival by making people feel attached to their own group and willing to work on group’s behalf 8 8/30/2014 Robbers cave Boys randomly separated into two groups Rattlers and Eagles Competitions fostered hostility between groups. Experimenters contrived situations requiring cooperation for success. Result: cross-group friendships increased. Stereotypes A summary impression of a group, in which a person believes that all members of the group share a common trait or traits. Traits may be positive, negative, or neutral. Allow us to process quickly new information and retrieve memories Distort reality Exaggerate differences between groups Produce selective perception Underestimate differences within groups Group conflict and prejudice Prejudice A strong, unreasonable dislike or hatred of a group, based on a negative stereotype. Central feature of a prejudice is that it remains immune to evidence. 9 8/30/2014 The origins of prejudice Psychological causes People inflate own self-worth by disliking groups they see as inferior. Social causes By disliking others we feel closer to others who are like us. Economic causes Legitimizes unequal economic treatment Cultural and national causes Bonds people to their own ethnic or national group and its ways Defining and measuring prejudice Measures of social distance and “microaggressions” Measures of unequal treatment Measure of what people do when they are stressed or angry Measures of brain activity Measures of implicit attitudes Typical stimuli used in the Implicit Association Test 10 8/30/2014 Reducing conflict and prejudice Both sides must have equal legal status, economic opportunities, and power. Authorities and community institutions must provide moral, legal, and economic support for both sides. Both sides must have many opportunities to work and socialize together, formally and informally. Both sides must cooperate, working together for a common goal. The question of human nature Human nature contains the potential for unspeakable acts of cruelty and inspiring acts of goodness. Most people believe that some cultures and individuals are inherently evil and therefore not fully human; if we can just get rid of them, everything will be fine. From the standpoint of social and cultural psychology, all human beings, like all cultures, contain the potential for both good and evil. Why Join a Terrorist Group ? Reactive depression/learned helplessness Lack of self-esteem Social learning theory Risky shift Peer influence Increased social standing Cognitive constructs 11 8/30/2014 Group Goals “Faith in a holy cause is to a considerable extent a substitute for the lost faith in ourselves.” - Eric Hoffer, The True Believer Group Goals When we lose faith in ourselves, we give ourselves over to the group. This “Self = bad, Group =good” thinking gives way to self-sacrifice. Group Dynamics Small tactical groups, with seldom more than 100 members. • Tight-knit, radical organizations. •Today, we see more loosely knit groups with branches in other countries (Taliban). •Ethnically and politically homogenous. •Often made up of friends & relatives, thus difficult to infiltrate. •Seldom operate from one location. •Relatively little training and use of unsophisticated equipment. •Funded by crime and/or drugs. 12 8/30/2014 Terrorism and Social Modeling Modeling behavior can explain many aspects of terrorist behavior for those born into a culture of terrorism, but it fails to explain the genesis of the terrorist movement – Modeling behavior may offer an adequate explanation for the ‘soldiers’ but not for the leaders of terrorist movements – Social learning approaches to understanding terrorism has some utility Levels of Involvement Organizers/Leaders Active Followers Supporters Sympathizers Initiate the movement Sustain the movement Group Dynamics Terrorist groups tend to view things as: right and wrong (black & white without shades of gray) them and “us” Terrorists tend to view their opponents as evil, inhumane (dehumanized) not like “us” 13 8/30/2014 Path to Terrorism: Model #1 From Borum, 2003 Path to Terrorism: Model #2 Social, Political, Economic, or Religious Strife Feelings of Empowerment and Ability to Affect Change Psychological Despair and Feelings of Hopelessness Adaptive Coping Response Blame Self Blame Others Social-Political Activism Psychological Depression Indoctrination into culture of hatred Suicide Homicide Democratic Reform or alternative evolution of social structure Psychopathologial Criminal Terrorist Path to Terrorism: Model #3 Learning, conditioning, and social modeling are important factors for understanding the spread of terrorism “Brain Washing” Modeling Behavior Social Contagion Theory 14 8/30/2014 Motivational Analysis: Factor #1 —Intensified Motivation for Change Commonly experienced psychological condition yielding varied responses – Goal unobstructed • Work merrily away pursuing ‘the good life’ – Goal obstructed • Increased effort to obtain goal through normal ‘channels’ • Search for alternative methods of obtaining goal • Search for substitute goals Motivational Analysis: Factor #2 —Diminished Competing Behaviors Multiple ‘choices’ of goals complicate life and diminish motivational focus for any single goal People are much less willing to give-up their life when they have something to live for and not just the promise of a better afterlife Motivational Analysis: Factor #3 —Diminished Inhibitions for Violence Single most important factor for understanding why some people progress from activists to terrorists Moral disengagement can explain the psychological transformation necessary for otherwise ‘normal’ people to engage in terrorist activity 15 8/30/2014 Killing Another Human Being is Seldom Easy Homicide – accidental (most people are naturally capable) – fit of rage (many people are naturally capable) – premeditated (few people are naturally capable) Moral disengagement facilitates the process – unnecessary for a few people (e.g., “natural born killers”) – can be serendipitous or systematically ‘programmed’ by new group norms Moral Disengagement From Bandura, 1990 Moral justification Sanitizing the language Diffusion or displacement of responsibility Attribution of blame to victims Dehumanization of victims Competing alternative behaviors Inhibition of violent behavior Motivation for change Activism Terrorism Three Variables Can Shift the Precarious Balance from Activism to Terrorism 16 8/30/2014 Transitioning to Terrorism Actual terrorists Active supporters Passive supporters Sympathizers Group Conflict The reasons for the group conflict are usually quite obvious The reasons for the transition into terrorist action are often less clear Group Conflict What factors produce the transition from inactivity to activity? – Intensified motivation? – Diminished competing behaviors? From supporter to active participant? – Diminished inhibitions? 17 1/29/2017 "Gaslighting" Psychology of Terrorism "Gaslighting" is a social psychology tactic of behavior in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a person question their reality. Anyone is susceptible to "Gaslighting". It is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, cult, and terrorist leaders It works a lot better than you may think "Gaslighting" • Gas Light (known in the United States as Angel Street) is a 1938 play by the British dramatist Patrick Hamilton. The play (and its film adaptations) gave rise to the term gaslighting with the meaning "a form of psychological abuse in which false information is presented to the victim with the intent of making him/her doubt his/her own memory and perception". https://youtu.be/0ToLfQU2xmg • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul7lLUwnI6 w 1 1/29/2017 "Gaslighting" • "Gaslighting" is done slowly, so the victim doesn't realize how much they've been ‘brainwashed’. "Gaslighting" Techniques • People that gaslight use the following techniques: 1. They tell you blatant lies. • You might know it's an outright lie. Yet they are telling you this lie with a straight face. Why are they so blatant? Because they're setting up a precedent. Once they tell you a huge lie, you're not sure if anything they say is true. Keeping you unsteady and off-kilter is the goal. "Gaslighting" Techniques 2. They deny they ever said something, even though you have proof. You know they said they would do something...you know you heard it. But they out and out deny it. It makes you start questioning your reality—maybe they never said that thing. And the more they do this, the more you question your reality and start accepting theirs. 2 1/29/2017 "Gaslighting" Techniques 3. They use what is near and dear to you as ammunition. • They know how important your kids are to you, they know how important your identity is to you. So that is one of the first things they attack. If you have kids, they tell you that you did a disservice by having those children. They will tell you that if only you weren't _____________, you'd be a worthy person. They attack the foundation of your being. "Gaslighting" Techniques 4. They wear you down over time. This is one of the insidious things about "Gaslighting"—it is done gradually, over time. A lie here, a lie there, a snide comment every so often...and then it starts ramping up. Even the brightest, most self-aware people can be sucked into "Gaslighting"—it is that effective. It's the "frog in the frying pan" analogy: The heat is turned up slowly, so the frog never realizes what hit it. "Gaslighting" Techniques 5. Their actions do not match their words. When dealing with a person or entity that gaslights, look at what they are doing rather than what they are saying. What they are saying means nothing. It is just talk. What they are doing is the issue. 3 1/29/2017 "Gaslighting" Techniques 6. They throw in positive reinforcement to confuse you. This person or entity that is cutting you down, telling you that you don't have value, is now praising you for something you did. This adds an additional sense of uneasiness. You think, "Well maybe they aren't so bad." Yes, they are. This is a calculated attempt to keep you off-kilter—and again, to question your reality. Also look at what you were praised for; it is probably something that served the gaslighter. "Gaslighting" Techniques 7. They know confusion weakens people. Gaslighters know that all people like having a sense of stability and normalcy. Their goal is to uproot this and make you constantly question everything. And humans' natural tendency is to look to the person or entity that will help you feel more stable—and that happens to be the gaslighter. "Gaslighting" Techniques 8. They project. They are a drug user or a cheater, yet they are constantly accusing you of that. This is done so repetitively that you start trying to defend yourself, and are distracted from the gaslighter's own behavior. 4 1/29/2017 "Gaslighting" Techniques 9. They try to align people against you. Gaslighters are masters at manipulating and finding the people they know will stand by them no matter what— and they use these people against you. They will make comments such as "____________ knows that you're not right," or "___________ knows you're useless too." Keep in mind it does not mean that these people actually said these things. The gaslighter is a constant liar. When the gaslighter uses this tactic it makes you feel like you don't know who to trust or turn to—and that leads you right back to the gaslighter. And that's exactly what they want. Isolation gives them more control. "Gaslighting" Techniques 10. They tell you or others that you are crazy. This is one of the most effective tools of the gaslighter - because it's dismissive. The gaslighter knows if they question your sanity, people will not believe you when you tell them the gaslighter is abusive or out-ofcontrol. It's a master technique. "Gaslighting" Techniques 11. They tell you everyone else is a liar. By telling you that everyone else (your family, the media) is a liar, it again makes you question your reality. You've never known someone with the audacity to do this, so they must be right, right? No. It's a manipulation technique. It makes people turn more to the gaslighter for the "correct" information—which isn't correct information at all. 5 1/29/2017 • Dorpat, Theodore L. (1996). Gaslighting, the Double Whammy, Interrogation, and Other Methods of Covert Control in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Jason Aronson. ISBN 978-1-56821-828-1. • Pepper, R. (2001). The leader's oral greed and gaslighting in group psychotherapy. The Group Psychologist, 11(3), 41-43. • Hayes, S., & Jeffries, S. (2015). Tools and Tactics. In Romantic Terrorism: An AutoEthnography of Domestic Violence, Victimization and Survival (pp. 26-40). Palgrave Macmillan UK. • Jacobson, Neil S.; Gottman, John M. (1998-03-10). When Men Batter Women: New Insights into Ending Abusive Relationships. Simon and Schuster. pp. 129– 132. ISBN 978-0-684-81447-6. 6 1/7/2014 Our Biological Legacy: The Triune Brain and Behavior Triune Brain • A structural model of the human brain that divides its physical areas according to whether the structures resemble those found in reptiles, or whether the brain structures evolved at a later time and resemble those of early mammals, or of more recently evolved mammals. Triune Brain 1 1/7/2014 Quadrune Brain Reptilian brain (our Lizard Legacy) and our paleo-mammal brain (our Furry L'il Mammal). Evolved later is our human rational brain, the Neocortex (our Monkey Mind), and highly developed in the human are the prefrontal cortex or frontal lobes (our Higher Porpoise; higher purpose). Reptilian Brain • The oldest part of the brain and the part of the “Triune Brain” structural model that includes such early-evolved, inner structures of the brain as the brain stem, pons, and the cerebellum, and portions of the thalamus and hypothalamus. Paleo (Old-) Mammalian Brain • A newer-evolved portion of the brain, shared in common among many mammals, that includes limbic system structures. 2 1/7/2014 Limbic System • A group of brain structures including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, that together regulate motives, emotions, memory, and physiological processes. Neo (New-) Mammalian Brain • The newest-evolved portion of the brain, shared in common among primates and including the thick outer later of the cerebral cortex. • Includes prefrontal cortex Cerebral Cortex • The outer surface of the brain including massive inter-associations among neurons; most responsible for higher mental processes and reasoning. 3 1/7/2014 The Brain Regions of the Brain The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex The Brain Regions of the Brain Within the Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex Are:  The Somatosensory Cortex  Receives sensory information  The Motor Cortex  Sends impulses to voluntary muscles  The Association Cortex  Houses the brain’s higher mental processes The Brain Regions of the Brain Language Processing Language Processing  Broca’s Area  Located in the left hemisphere, directs the muscle movements in speech production  Wernicke’s Area  Located in the left hemisphere, involved in the comprehension of language The brain operates as an integrated system. 4 1/7/2014 The Brain The Split Brain The Corpus Callosum  A bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres  If surgically severed for treatment of epilepsy, hemispheres cannot communicate directly. The Brain The Split Brain Visual Processing  Both eyes send information to both hemispheres.  Images in the right half of the visual field go to the left hemisphere.  Images in the left half of the visual field go to the right hemisphere. 5 1/7/2014 The Triune Brain Paleo-Mammalian (Limbic System) .Fear, primitive learning, aggression Responsible for the motivation and emotion and memory involved in feeding, reproductive behavior, and parental behavior_ Neo-Cortex Conscious thought, Imagination, and Empathy Self-reflection, planning Future oriented Reptilian Responsible for arousal, body regulation, homeostasis, and reproduction 6
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Running Head: ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM

Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham
Institutional Affiliation
Date

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ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM

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Introduction
An online platform well known as the Big, Allied, and Dangerous was developed in the world
since 1998 to provide information and details of well-known and notorious terrorists and their
organizations. The START was also an organization whose mission was to train students on
aspects related to terrorism, counterterrorism and thus elaborated on homeland security and
offered terrorism-related education and skills. It enabled scholars to understand community
resilience and allows students all over to write about their different research experiences.
Terrorist activities cause physical injuries and suffering as well as causing terror over a given
place and therefore generally this act of terrorism has a great impact on psychology. Terrorism is
thus a crucial form of violence.
ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM (ISIS)
i).Background Information of the Organization.
This organization was originally formed in the year 2004 in Iraq. Isis obtained its current name
from the al-Qaida through the leadership of Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi and the al-Qaida. In the year
2005, this organization had approximately 1000 militants since al-Zarqawi had worked very hard
to increase his membership in this organization whose prime mission was to go against the
coalition government and the military of the United States, therefore, acted as an opposition.
This organization obtained its massive support from the known Sunni population based in Iraq
thus was able to be of greater influence. The expansion/achievements towards their set goals
were later facilitated through the development of an umbrella organization; MSC which stands
for Mujahideen Shura Council where al-Zarqawi joined forces with other five Sunni groups of

ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND AL-SHAM

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Islamist. This collaboration enabled them to work their desires towards the transition to creating
an Islamic state (Gulmohamad, 2014).
The Isis leader died on June 7, 2006, in a U.S airstrike and was later replaced by Abu Omar al
Baghdadi in 2006. Later on, two leaders of the Isis organization passed on making the
organization weak and almost losing its grounds. Abu Bakr al Baghdadi decided to take full
control when he realized the organization was falling apart and developed into the insurgency it
is. Isis eventually separated with Al-Qaida after obtaining a good government and its
administrative structure, therefore, putting into effect brutal tactics to get international attention.
Isis took over and ruled many cities such as Mosul and Al-Qaim who were part of their
territories. This organization used many different ways to obtain finances for their daily welfare
and operations obtaining ransom through kidnaps, robbery, and theft by stealing goodies and
cash, selling equipment’s belonging to the government through various trading activities through
much of the organization’s finances were obtained from the selling of oil reserves that they had
captured. The organization committed, therefore, a number of acts and crimes such as
crucifixions of their victims, shooting at their respective targets using rivals such as guns and
executions which were done in public.
ii).Environmental Factors
When the organization changed its name to Is...


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