Chapter 1. Psychological nature of terrorism Terrorism in the past and in the present Role of the mass media Fear as a main weapon of terrorists. Chapter 2. Terrorists. Who are they? 2.1. Psychological motivation of terrorists Peculiarities of terrorists’ psychology Suicidal terrorism.

Terrorism has a psychological nature from two perspectives: 1) Citizens are influenced psychologically, the number of victims plays not the dominant role. 2) Terrorists have the psychology of their own, which is determined by: - Religion; - Social prejudices.

Chain of communication between terrorists and citizens: terrorists mass media public mechanism of fear

The psychology of terrorists - T here exists a peculiar terrorist type (Raymond Lloyd Richmond). - T errorists are not necessarily crazy suicidal people with pathologies, anybody can be a terrorist under the peculiar circumstances (Clark R. McCauley).

Terrorism in the past: - A iming at political leaders or representatives of power. Examples: - In 1991 during an election campaign Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a suicide bomber; - In 1996 Japanese Embassy in Lima was captured by the terrorists of Tupak Amaru. Terrorism in the present: - A iming at civilians. Examlpe: - New York, World Trade Center, Sept. 11, 2001.

Power depends on public opinion. It is mass media that shapes public opinion. Mass media is willing to cover sensations. Psychological attack is violence not against the representatives of power, but directed against peaceful, unprotected citizens. It is always accompanied by the demonstration through the mass media of the results of terror. That’s why today the most effective method of terror is psychological attack.

Terrorism is an act of communication; Terrorism can’t exist without mass media; For terrorists the message matters, not the victim. For example: - IRA, ETA; - Timothy Mc Veigh; - Bin Laden; - Moscow theater hostage crisis.

-Fear as a main weapon of terrorists. - Mechanism of fear. - Phenomenon of deferred fear. Psychologically, “terror” is the fear, which appears not at the moment of danger, but follows people after the act of terror for a long time, inducing them to the actions, advantageous for terrorists.

Terrorists. Who are they? Differences: - Social backgrounds; - Spheres of life. Common feature: - Desire for self-identification.

Terrorists’ motivation. The main reason is the strong necessity to be included into some social group. - In most of the cases terrorists are people from one-parent families. - People, who have lost a job or never could get one. Those with little education join a terrorist group: - out of boredom; - out of a desire to have an adventure in pursuit of a cause they regard as just; - out of a desire to use their special skills ( bomb-making skills). The more educated youths may be motivated by genuine political or religious convictions.

The Personal Pathway Model, by which terrorists enter their new profession. The main four factors are: 1. Early socialization processes. 2. Narcissistic injuries. 3. Confrontation with police. 4. Personal connections to terrorist group members.

Differences that separate the psychopath from the terrorist: - Psychopath's inability to profit from experience. - The purposefulness of a psychopath's actions is personal, while terrorists have the mutual goal of the terrorist organization. - Psychopaths are too unreliable and incapable of being controlled to be of use to terrorist groups.

Terrorist's interpersonal world is limited to only three categories of people: - The terrorist's idealized heroes; - The terrorist's enemies; - People one encounters in everyday life, whom the terrorist regards as shadow figures of no consequence.

The major examples of suicide terrorism before 1985 are: - The bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut on April 18, 1983, which killed 63 people. - The bombings of the U.S. Marine barracks, 241 U.S. Marines killed in Lebanon, October 23, The bombing of the French military headquarters in Lebanon on October 23, 1983, 58 French paratroopers killed. Among the recent instances of suicide terrorism: - World Trade Center Bombing, September 11 th, Moscow theater hostage crisis, “Nord Ost”, October 2002.

“A better understanding of the circumstances that cause a person to become a terrorist may help us prevent it in the future”. The study of the psychology of terror is directed towards: - Prevention. - Detection. -Capture.