JULY EXAMINATIONS
SECTION B
STUDY UNIT 6: PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN TERRORISM
DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES
According to Sternberg, terrorism is simply “the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of
coercion".
Hallett defines the term as a theatrical crime against person or property in which only symbolic or
psychological satisfaction to the perpetrators is gained.
In federal law, terrorism is defined as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social objectives.”
Under federal law, terrorism may be either domestic or international, depending on the origin, base,
objectives of the terrorist organization.
Domestic terrorism refers to the actions of groups or an individual based and operating entirely
within the United States or Puerto Rico without clear foreign direction-although there may be
foreign influence.
A well-known example is the Oklahoma City bombing on April 17, 1995, when a truck bomb
destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 167 (19 were children, most of
whom were in a day care centre on the premises) and injuring 684 persons.
Other illustrations of domestic terrorism include actions by members of far-right extremist groups,
including political and religious white supremacists, such as Aryan Nations and neo-Nazi
organizations.
For example, members of the so-called "Army of God" claimed responsibility for the
bombings of clinics that provide abortions and an alternative lifestyle nightclub in Atlanta.
This form of domestic terrorism is increasingly gaining attention in the scholarly literature and the
special issues of the American Psychologist, and many law enforcement authorities consider it a
greater threat to national security than international terrorism.
International terrorism refers to violent acts or acts dangerous to human
life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state
and under the direction of a foreign government, group, organization, or
person.
Although terrorist activities are widespread and affect people
throughout the world, the most vivid example of international
terrorism and the one most covered by the media and the research
literature is that represented by the events that occurred on
September 11, 2001.
,Despite the vast and sometimes overwhelming array of definitions, Marsella finds some common
ground in all of them, although-as in the definitions above-it may be implicit.
"Terrorism is broadly viewed as:
(a) the use of force or violence
(b) by individuals or groups
(c) that is directed toward civilian populations
(d) and intended to in still fear
(e) as a means of coercing individuals or groups to change their political and social positions”
CLASSIFICATION OF TERRORIST GROUPS
The FBI classifies terrorists according to political leanings.
Right-wing terrorists are extremist groups or individuals that generally adhere to an anti-
government or racist ideology and often engage in a variety of hate crimes and violence.
They may be prompted to become active by the passage of legislation or by government
policy in opposition to their beliefs, such as laws placing restrictions on gun ownership or
taxation or laws granting civil rights to various groups, such as marriage equality laws or laws
applying to the children of undocumented immigrants.
Far-right organizations are receiving considerable research scrutiny.
Just Note:
though the domestic far right is not easily defined, it is composed of individuals or groups that are
fiercely nationalistic, anti-global, suspicious of centralized federal authority, and reverent of
individual liberty, such as an unrestricted right to own guns or be free from taxes.
They also believe in conspiracy theories, believe attacks to national sovereignty and/or
personal liberty are imminent, and consequently participate in paramilitary training in
survival skills.
Left-wing extremist groups have also been prevalent in American history.
Although less likely to be labelled "terrorists," their actions may qualify them for that
designation when they move from political activism to violent activities.
Historically, left-wing extremism developed from working-class movements seeking in
theory to eliminate class distinctions.
More modern left-wing extremists, however, protest and politically agitate against certain
governmental policies, discrimination, and environmental issues.
According to Smith and Morgan, the extreme left "... is characterized by extreme
egalitarianism, an extreme hatred of racism and capitalism, and an overt opposition to
militarianism"
Another FBI classification is special interest extremists, whose activities revolve around one issue
which they are passionate about. The predominant representatives of this group are violent
antiabortion groups that firebombed women's health centres during the 1990s. This category also
includes radical environmental groups, such as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). The ELF
, organization received particular attention during the late 1990s by
destroying homes, earth-moving equipment, power lines, computer
systems, and buildings that they believed damaged the earths. ecology. In
its own words, the organization's primary mission is to “speed up the
collapse of industry, to scare the rich, and to undermine the foundations of
the state."
During the past several decades, fear of nuclear/biological/chemical
(abbreviated NBC)terrorism has apparently accelerated. The thought of
being exposed to an invisible or undetectable by conventional weapons.
Furthermore, the threat of NBC terrorism is more realistic today because terrorists are able to take
advantage of the greater availability of information and weapons technology.
Nuclear terrorism includes the use of nuclear bombs or dirty bombs that make use of radioactive
material and thus far has not been known to occur. The public is periodically told, however, of
thwarted attempts to plant dirty bombs in various global locations.
The use of biological agents in this context is sometimes referred to as bioterrorism. It involves the
use of bacteria, viruses, germs, and other agents such as anthrax, bubonic plague, and smallpox .
A recent example of domestic bioterrorism:
is represented by the anthrax attacks that occurred in the United States less than a month after
9/11. The bioterrorist(s) sent the anthrax by letter to various persons in the eastern sections of the
United States, including the Washington offices of Senators Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschle, and the
New York office of former CBS anchor Dan Rather.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease
caused by the spore-forming bacterium
Bacillus anthracis. Although anthrax is
most commonly found in hoofed
mammals, it can also infect humans.
Symptoms of the disease vary
depending on how the disease was
contracted, but they usually occur
within seven days after exposure.
The serious forms of human anthrax
are:
a. inhalation anthrax
Inhalation (pulmonary)
anthrax starts with
inhalation of anthrax
spores and has a
mortality rate of
around 95 percent,
even with treatment.
b. cutaneous (skin) anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax
starts with the spore colonizing the skin through an abrasion, cut, or wound. The
SECTION B
STUDY UNIT 6: PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN TERRORISM
DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES
According to Sternberg, terrorism is simply “the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of
coercion".
Hallett defines the term as a theatrical crime against person or property in which only symbolic or
psychological satisfaction to the perpetrators is gained.
In federal law, terrorism is defined as “the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or
property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in
furtherance of political or social objectives.”
Under federal law, terrorism may be either domestic or international, depending on the origin, base,
objectives of the terrorist organization.
Domestic terrorism refers to the actions of groups or an individual based and operating entirely
within the United States or Puerto Rico without clear foreign direction-although there may be
foreign influence.
A well-known example is the Oklahoma City bombing on April 17, 1995, when a truck bomb
destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 167 (19 were children, most of
whom were in a day care centre on the premises) and injuring 684 persons.
Other illustrations of domestic terrorism include actions by members of far-right extremist groups,
including political and religious white supremacists, such as Aryan Nations and neo-Nazi
organizations.
For example, members of the so-called "Army of God" claimed responsibility for the
bombings of clinics that provide abortions and an alternative lifestyle nightclub in Atlanta.
This form of domestic terrorism is increasingly gaining attention in the scholarly literature and the
special issues of the American Psychologist, and many law enforcement authorities consider it a
greater threat to national security than international terrorism.
International terrorism refers to violent acts or acts dangerous to human
life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or any state
and under the direction of a foreign government, group, organization, or
person.
Although terrorist activities are widespread and affect people
throughout the world, the most vivid example of international
terrorism and the one most covered by the media and the research
literature is that represented by the events that occurred on
September 11, 2001.
,Despite the vast and sometimes overwhelming array of definitions, Marsella finds some common
ground in all of them, although-as in the definitions above-it may be implicit.
"Terrorism is broadly viewed as:
(a) the use of force or violence
(b) by individuals or groups
(c) that is directed toward civilian populations
(d) and intended to in still fear
(e) as a means of coercing individuals or groups to change their political and social positions”
CLASSIFICATION OF TERRORIST GROUPS
The FBI classifies terrorists according to political leanings.
Right-wing terrorists are extremist groups or individuals that generally adhere to an anti-
government or racist ideology and often engage in a variety of hate crimes and violence.
They may be prompted to become active by the passage of legislation or by government
policy in opposition to their beliefs, such as laws placing restrictions on gun ownership or
taxation or laws granting civil rights to various groups, such as marriage equality laws or laws
applying to the children of undocumented immigrants.
Far-right organizations are receiving considerable research scrutiny.
Just Note:
though the domestic far right is not easily defined, it is composed of individuals or groups that are
fiercely nationalistic, anti-global, suspicious of centralized federal authority, and reverent of
individual liberty, such as an unrestricted right to own guns or be free from taxes.
They also believe in conspiracy theories, believe attacks to national sovereignty and/or
personal liberty are imminent, and consequently participate in paramilitary training in
survival skills.
Left-wing extremist groups have also been prevalent in American history.
Although less likely to be labelled "terrorists," their actions may qualify them for that
designation when they move from political activism to violent activities.
Historically, left-wing extremism developed from working-class movements seeking in
theory to eliminate class distinctions.
More modern left-wing extremists, however, protest and politically agitate against certain
governmental policies, discrimination, and environmental issues.
According to Smith and Morgan, the extreme left "... is characterized by extreme
egalitarianism, an extreme hatred of racism and capitalism, and an overt opposition to
militarianism"
Another FBI classification is special interest extremists, whose activities revolve around one issue
which they are passionate about. The predominant representatives of this group are violent
antiabortion groups that firebombed women's health centres during the 1990s. This category also
includes radical environmental groups, such as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF). The ELF
, organization received particular attention during the late 1990s by
destroying homes, earth-moving equipment, power lines, computer
systems, and buildings that they believed damaged the earths. ecology. In
its own words, the organization's primary mission is to “speed up the
collapse of industry, to scare the rich, and to undermine the foundations of
the state."
During the past several decades, fear of nuclear/biological/chemical
(abbreviated NBC)terrorism has apparently accelerated. The thought of
being exposed to an invisible or undetectable by conventional weapons.
Furthermore, the threat of NBC terrorism is more realistic today because terrorists are able to take
advantage of the greater availability of information and weapons technology.
Nuclear terrorism includes the use of nuclear bombs or dirty bombs that make use of radioactive
material and thus far has not been known to occur. The public is periodically told, however, of
thwarted attempts to plant dirty bombs in various global locations.
The use of biological agents in this context is sometimes referred to as bioterrorism. It involves the
use of bacteria, viruses, germs, and other agents such as anthrax, bubonic plague, and smallpox .
A recent example of domestic bioterrorism:
is represented by the anthrax attacks that occurred in the United States less than a month after
9/11. The bioterrorist(s) sent the anthrax by letter to various persons in the eastern sections of the
United States, including the Washington offices of Senators Patrick Leahy and Tom Daschle, and the
New York office of former CBS anchor Dan Rather.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease
caused by the spore-forming bacterium
Bacillus anthracis. Although anthrax is
most commonly found in hoofed
mammals, it can also infect humans.
Symptoms of the disease vary
depending on how the disease was
contracted, but they usually occur
within seven days after exposure.
The serious forms of human anthrax
are:
a. inhalation anthrax
Inhalation (pulmonary)
anthrax starts with
inhalation of anthrax
spores and has a
mortality rate of
around 95 percent,
even with treatment.
b. cutaneous (skin) anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax
starts with the spore colonizing the skin through an abrasion, cut, or wound. The
