Homeland Security Research Papers

1556 Words7 Pages
David July 24, 2012 Homeland Security Phase 2 IP The purpose of this paper is to describe the types of individuals and groups that are prone to terrorism. The emergence of terrorist organizations and individual terrorist over the recent decade has created a legitimate urgency to the need for understanding of the psychological and sociological dynamics of terrorism. A detailed knowledge of terrorism and any commonality that exist among terrorist; will help in assessing trends within various organizations and possibly help in preventing future attacks. A psychological and sociological profile of terrorism combined with an understanding of common motivations and behaviors is likely to assist law enforcement, and agencies related to counter…show more content…
Most often the cause of terrorism is related to a perceived struggle faced by the terrorist in his or her environment. Some causes for terrorism are; ethnic conflicts, religious and ideological conflicts, poverty, modernization stresses, political inequities, lack of peaceful communications channels, traditions of violence, the existence of a revolutionary group, governmental weakness and ineptness, erosions of confidence in a regime, and deep divisions within governing elites and leadership groups. The list of causes above is related to environmental factors of influence for terrorist leaders. Another approach used to identify motivational factors for terrorist leaders is the physiological approach. David G. Hubbard (1983) discusses three substances produced in the body under stress; norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and endorphins, and explains how these physiological response of individuals in stressful situations enforce certain behaviors. Basically, the act of terrorism, arouses the terrorist and neuro-chemically stimulates the terrorist; enforcing the behavior. Not only does the terrorist receive a high from his violent behavior but certain individuals watching the act of terrorism on television can also, if physiological susceptible to violence, become inspire for terrorism as well. This transfer of beliefs or expanded desire for violence through media coverage is…show more content…
A. Hudson. (September 1999). THE SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF TERRORISM: WHO BECOMES A TERRORIST AND WHY? Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Soc_Psych_of_Terrorism.pdf Hubbard, David G. (1983). “The Psychodynamics of Terrorism.” Pages 45–53 in Yonah Alexander, T. Adeniran, and R.A. Kilmarx, eds., International Violence. New York: Praeger. Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Soc_Psych_of_Terrorism.pdf Hubbard, David G.(1971) The Skyjacker: His Flights of Fantasy. New York: Macmillan. Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Soc_Psych_of_Terrorism.pdf Russell, Charles A., and Bowman H. Miller. (1978). “Profile of a Terrorist.” Pages 81–95 In John D. Elliott and Leslie K. Gibson, eds., Contemporary Terrorism: Selected Readings. Gaithersburg, Maryland: International Association of Chiefs of Police. Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from: http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/Soc_Psych_of_Terrorism.pdf Russell, Charles A., and Bowman H. Miller. (1977) “Profile of a Terrorist,” Terrorism: An International Journal, 1, No. 1, p. 17–34. Retrieved on July 22, 2012 from:

More about Homeland Security Research Papers

Open Document