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Review article

PERSONALITY PROFILE OF A SUICIDE BOMBER

Marko Krstić ; Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia


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Abstract

This paper provides an overview of relevant knowledge about a complex motivation mechanism in suicide terrorists, their preferences or membership in a particular social environment, and the selection criteria for committing a terrorist attack. This study will also define the conditions under which a terrorist group would use a suicide attack instead conventional tactics. It is known that terrorist organizations are able to use certain “social” and “psychological” methods as a means of propaganda and indoctrination in order to influence these individuals. Their attacks can also act as a signal of group’s determination and can additionally serve as an instrument for attracting new recruits and supporters. Understanding motives and ways of thinking of a suicide terrorist can be very complex. In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding, this analysis will cover the sphere of action and motives of terrorist leaders, which can result in additional opportunities to counter suicide-terrorism. The paper will analyze political and educational variables, as well as variables of family morality and religion compared to personal experiences that make the individual commit such acts of violence. An answer will be sought as to how much psychological understanding of persons involved in suicide attacks can help in its prevention.

Keywords

suicidal terrorism; psychology; motives; recruitment

Hrčak ID:

207134

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/207134

Publication date:

22.6.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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