Psychology shapes terrorism’s method selection as much as its onset.

Evidence

In terrorism studies, the focus is on the motivations and belief systems of individual terrorists. The psyche is thus the privileged site of investigation and terrorism is explained as a compulsion or psycho-pathology. That is to say, the terrorist is driven to commit acts of violence as a consequence of psychological forces. The terrorist psyche is born in abnormal family dynamics, with the West’s own heterosexual family as its point of contrast. Bin Laden, for example, is represented as someone abandoned by a polygamous father whose interests were with his other wives. He was drawn to find substitute father figures in fundamentalist men. Terrorists are depicted as failed heterosexuals who need the promise of virgins in heaven to commit to the cause. Such portraits not only draw on older discourses about the effeminate or sexually dysfunctional Muslim man and the Oriental despot, but they preclude any examination of the socio-political causes of terrorism. — Sherene Razack, Casting Out, 121 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Here Lewis’s argument reflects what Kundnani (2012) sees as a movement by scholars and the state to reduce an understanding of terrorism to the concept of radicalization, which is motivated by psychological and theological reasons rather than structural issues such as those caused by war and military intervention. — Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, 30 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Terrorism studies explains violence through individual psychology rather than politics — Sherene Razack, Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims…, 121; Terrorism’s political context shapes its motivations and psychological effects — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4076; Terrorism results from predispositions interacting with political context, not personality alone — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4086 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Terrorism studies explains violence through individual psychology rather than politics #complicates (0.85) — Sherene Razack, Casting Out, 121
• Scholars and states reduce terrorism to psychological and theological radicalization #complicates (0.72) — Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, 30