Terrorism, Political Violence, and Extremism: New Psychology to Understand, Face, and Defuse the Threat

by Chris E. Stout Ph.D.

Overview

A must-read for psychologists—clinical and academic alike—as well as for political scientists, policy analysts, and others working in the realm of terrorism, political violence, and extremism, this book carefully explores the theories, observations, and approaches of authorities in the field and addresses how and why terrorism has perpetuated for so long.

Terrorism is now a regular topic in the news rather than a rare or an unusual occurrence. The possibility of violent terrorist acts constitutes a legitimate safety concern, regardless of one's country of residence: no longer can anyone assume that their location is beyond the reach or outside the targeted areas of any number of terrorist groups. Terrorism, Political Violence, and Extremism: New Psychology to Understand, Face, and Defuse the Threat examines why the number of terrorist attacks has greatly increased since the attacks on September 11, 2001 occurred, including well-known events such as the Madrid train bombings (2004), the London Underground bombings of 2005, the San Bernardino and Paris attacks (2015), and countless others, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

Beyond providing a careful and up-to-date assessment of the state of terrorism worldwide, which includes coverage of the religious and political origins of terrorist activities, the book pinpoints less-recognized and rarely studied aspects of terrorism, such as terrorism hysteria, sexuality, shame, and rape. The diverse perspectives within this unified volume are relevant to a breadth of subject areas, such as international psychology, military psychology, political science, political theory, religious studies, military theory, peace studies, military sciences, law enforcement, public health, sociology, anthropology, social work, law, and feminist theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440851926
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/24/2017
Series:	Contemporary Psychology
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Chris E. Stout, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, founding director of the Center for Global Initiatives, vice president of research and data analytics at ATI Holdings, LLC, and on the faculty at the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction Chris E. Stout xi

Part I Theory and Observation 1

Chapter 1 The Psychology of Terrorism Seyed Ammar Nakhjavani 3

Chapter 2 Why ISIL and Why Now? A Psychosocial Examination of the Rise of ISIL Joseph E. Troiani Breanna Hosteller 20

Chapter 3 Terrorist Theology, Delusion, and Apotheosis in Death Jerry S. Piven 43

Chapter 4 The Psychology of War J. Harold Ellens 67

Chapter 5 Psychological, Theological, and Thanatological Aspects of Suicide Terrorism Jerry S. Piven 79

Chapter 6 Terror, Sexual Arousal, and Torture: The Question of Obedience or Ecstasy among Perpetrators Jerry S. Piven 103

Chapter 7 War Rape: Unveiling the Complexities of Motivation and Reparation in Order to Create Lines of Peace and Empowerment Cynthia Grguric 125

Chapter 8 Unresolved Trauma: Fuel for the Cycle of Violence and Domestic Terrorism Timothy Gailimore 149

Chapter 9 Offensive Counterintelligence: Using Psychology to Sabotage Social Bonds in Terrorist Organizations D. Alan Johnson 175

Part II Approaches for Understanding and Healing 199

Chapter 10 Terror and Violence Perpetrated by Children and upon Children Trevor F. Stokes Nino Chkhaidze 201

Chapter 11 Older Adults and Terrorism Jessica Walsh Lisa M. Brown 225

Chapter 12 The Psychological Impact of Terrorism on Refugee Populations Fred Bemak Rita Chi-Ying Chung 260

Part III Questioning Authority 285

Chapter 13 Americanism: Causes, Consequences, and Growth Paul R. Kimmel 287

Chapter 14 Military Psychologist: An Oxymoron Alice LoCicero 309

Conclusion Chris E. Stout Grace Wang 331

Index 333

About the Editor and Contributors 349

About the Series Editor and Advisory Board 355

About the Series 359

What People are Saying About This

Mari Fitzduff

"Political and religious terrorists are increasingly the enemies of our democratic futures. Learning to understand their roots, their motivations, and their power to sway the way in which we live is critical, and this impressive book will be an invaluable tool for those of us who are intent on countering violent extremism."

Philip Zimbardo

"Dr. Stout has compiled a must-read for anyone interested in a beneath-the-surface examination of the psychology of terrorism and extremism. This book explores the topic from a variety of valuable vantage points, which both informs the reader in a complete way and maintains the crucial conviction of the complexity of the subject matter. It is a provocative read and should spur much dialog."

Editorial Reviews

(This book) is very timely and leverages the knowledge of experts in the field. The book is also rich with facts and theories from different perspectives, especially psychology. . . . interesting and well-written with creative ideas and supported arguments.” —International Psychology Bulletin

From the Publisher