Terrorism is not generally a product of mental pathology

Evidence

Nor does terrorism in general appear to be a result of mental pathologies. Rasch (1979, p. 80), a psychiatrist who has analyzed several members of the West German terrorist organizations, warns that “no conclusive evidence has been found for the assumption that a significant number of them are disturbed or abnormal.” In Rasch’s (1979, p. 79) view, the argument that terrorism is pathological behavior is an attempt to avoid discussion of the political and social issues raised by terrorism. Rasch’s position is reinforced by the studies performed under the aegis of the West German Ministry of the Interior, which include information on 227 leftist terrorists in West Germany (Jäger, Schmidtchen, & Süllwold, 1981, particularly Süllwold, pp. 101–102 and conclusions by Jäger & Böllinger, p. 235). Similarly, Ferracuti and Bruno (1981, p. 206), who studied Italian terrorists, note that “a general psychiatric explanation of terrorism is impossible. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4088

Categorization

• XREF: Reverses the common media and policy framing of terrorists as irrational madmen; connects to debates about whether extremism is rational political action. — connects to: Terrorism emerges from the intersection of disposition and environment, not single personality types — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 4086; Terrorists are rarely psychopathological, and labeling them so evades political questions — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology: Key Readings, 4088; Mental illness is not a major driver of extremism on its own — Ryan Andrew Brown, Todd C. Helmus, Rajeev Ramchand, Alina I. Palimaru, Sarah Weilant, Ashley L. Rhoades, and Liisa Hiatt (RAND Corporation), Violent Extremism in America:…, 150 (+2 more)
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4088