The Psychopathology of the Terrorist Mind

Paper Summary:

This paper examines different theories of how terrorists and the terrorist mind set are made. It discusses Dr. Jerrold M. Post's theory that terrorist behavior is a product of psychotic forces and Dr. Eric Shaw's argument that terrorists follow a "personal pathway model" on the road to becoming terrorists. The case of John Walker-Lindh is also discussed by analyzing his odyssey from mixed-up teenager to American Taliban.

Outline
The Psychopathology of the Terrorist Mind
Dr. Eric Shaw's "The Personal Pathway Model"
Quickly Contrasting and Comparing the Two Theories
John Walker-Lindh the "American Taliban"

From the Paper:

"Dr. Post notes that there is a striking consistency considering the diversity of causes that terrorists are attracted to. Whether it be the old Red Guard Faction in Germany during the 70's, the communists terrorists in the Philippines or today's incarnations of Islamic jihads in the Middle East they share the aforementioned worldview of an us versus them mindset. This worldview is without nuance, without shades of gray. For the terrorist "they," the establishment, are the source of all evil and are thus the source of all of their problems. With this view then, people outside the cause, all potential targets, become less human, more easily dismissed as expendable in order to achieve their ends."

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