Psychology of Terrorism essay

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The article “Psychology of Terrorism” by Randy Borum provides a summary regarding why people join, remain or leave terrorist groups. According to Borum  (2004), individuals have various ways, which makes them terrorists as they play different functions, and are motivated by variant reasons. Thus, the article advances three reasons, which are the need for belonging, feeling of injustice, and identity purposes as the main motivators for individuals to join, leave or remain in terrorist groups. Borum also notes that psychopathism does not characterize terrorism. In addition, he notes that mental illness should not feature in describing the behaviors of terrorists. The author asserts that most terrorists have histories of mistreatment while still in their tender ages, and that is why they get easily recruited into terrorist groups because of the ideologies advanced. However, Borum (2004) indicates that not all the ideologies held by terrorist groups promote terror. This is why the author analyzes terrorist groups and explicates that they have some in-fighting. In addition, the author notes it is essential for the leader of such a group to be charismatic. The author concludes by offering areas that need more research, which he notes that must focus on behavior.

From the article, the author educates regarding the main motivators for people to join terrorism groups. Borum (2004) asserts that individuals are motivated by three factors, to join terrorism groups, and he notes them as the need for identity, need for belonging, and feeling of have been treated unjustly. I can also deduct from the article that profiling should not be used in characterizing terrorists; thus, it is difficult to distinguish a terrorist from a person that is not. What is impressive about the article is the fact that a terrorist group leader requires certain traits in order to keep the group intact. It is astounding to learn that terrorist groups are run like organizations because they too require an ideologist and bureaucracy. However, the author mentioned that child mistreatment features a lot in the histories of many terrorists.            On the other hand, he mentioned that it cannot help in deducting terrorism. That is the topic that I would wish to learn more about, and establish the relationship inherent.

Various reasons explicate how the article “Psychology of Terrorism” relates with Psychological Measurement. Firstly, the article relates to Psychological Measurement in that it explains reasons behind joining of terrorism groups, which in Psychological Measurement represents a reference group. The article studies this group in comparison to non-terrorists who form the norm, which is also a term in Psychological Measurement. Secondly, the article also provides background information regarding a leader of a terrorist group, and arguably, that relates to Psychological Measurement, which focusses on analyzing people’s personalities and intelligence. Thirdly, the article relates to Psychological Measurement as it touches on the emotional construct of terrorists. Emotional construct is a topic explored in Psychological testing, which also falls under Pyschological Measurement. It is essential to note that the article by Borum explores the reasons that motivate individuals to join terrorist groups, and emotional construct of the terrorist depicts when Borum mentions that they need identity and a place of belonging.

In conclusion, the article by Borum researches the reasons behind people joining terrorist groups. Various reasons are identified such as the need of belonging, identity, and feeling of injustice. The article is impressive in that it explores how terrorist groups are conducted, and it mentions that charisma is essential because of bureaucracy and the need for ideology. The article educates that profiling should not be used in terrorism, and that child mistreatment features significantly in terrorists’ biographies. The article relates to Psychological Measurement as it adopts a method to explain the behavior of a select group from the normal group.


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