Terrorists

It is difficult to determine what causes people to become terrorists. Terrorists are not willing to be used as test subjects because they are not volunteers. Nonetheless, in order to criticize and determine the psychology of terrorists, one must first understand the meaning of terrorism, which will lead them to a better understanding. Terrorism might thus be described as the systematic application of fear and violence among targeted populations in order to achieve particular goals. As a result of the definition, it is clear that the act of terrorism has a purpose. Besides that, when carrying out the act of terrorism, the terrorist only target a small segment of society to convey a message to the large community by instilling fear.

The Psychology of Terrorism
Many scholars and researchers have attempted to establish the underlying causes of terrorism acts. Thus, in the recent past, there have been numerous research and scholarly efforts that try to unveil the terrorist's psychology. These studies have yielded various and contradictory outcomes whereby scholars argue that terrorists have psychological and mental problems that make them carry out various activities. Other scholars also argue that terrorists have psychological problems like low-self esteem, paranoia, identity crises and depression (Crenshaw, 2000: 407).
According to Horgan, 2004, there is a big difference between normal people and terrorists. As a respected terrorism scholar and psychologist, Horgan has carried out multiple types of research that have ascertained that there is a connection between terrorism and psychology. He says that a person to joins or get involved in terrorism activities due to issues like
Being disenfranchised, angry or estranged
Considering their existing political participation as not giving them the influence to effect actual modification.
The desire to be decisive than just conversing about the predicament.
Believing that taking part in violence against the nation is not morally wrong (DeAngelis, 2009: 60).
To understand the psychology of terrorists, researchers largely rely on psychological theories of violence such as cognitive theory, drive theory, biological approaches, instinct theory and social learning theory (Borum, 2007: 11-16). Concerning the psychological theory used, different verdicts have come out regarding the psychology of terrorists. Thus, to critique the sociological findings of terrorists, people have to be aware of the diverse hypothetical approaches utilized as well as their main support.

Terrorism might not depend on particular only psychological procedures but also on communal psychological procedures. They assert that people fear to die and that could one of dynamic factor of terrorism since one effect of making humanity significant is defending the way in which one views the world against the basis of the threat, for instance, against the group where the terrorists belong.

There is no hesitation that psychology has a hint about the concept of terrorism. This range from: radicalization, the fundamental effects of terrorism, social dynamics in dealing with terrorism threats, and the pressure of the society. For instance, following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the US government modified its foreign and immigration policies to make it hard for terrorists and their ideologies enter the US. Due to this attempt, the US has espoused strict actions for checking all visitors entering the country. On the other hand, more effective and military acts have been taken to restrain terrorism away from its boundaries.

Conclusion
To examine what they do from a distance may result to making incorrect conclusions. What is clear is that a group that could be terrorists to other people may be a freedom fighter to another group of individuals. Therefore, as much as terrorism is a controversial and complicated scheme, there are still main discrepancies in comprehending terrorists and terrorism. However, currently, a wide range of information on terrorists and terrorism exist whereby some information is regarding the psychology of terrorism that tackles issues about ending terrorism, personality, and developmental factors.





References
Borum, R. (2004). Psychology of terrorism. Tampa: University of South Florida.
Crenshaw, M. (2000). 'The psychology of terrorism: An agenda for the 21st century.' Political Psychology, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 405-420.
DeAngelis, T. (2009). Understanding terrorism. American Psychology Association, vol. 40, no. 10, p. 60.
Horgan, J. (2004). Chapter 4: The social ad psychological characteristics of terrorism and terrorists. In T. Bjørgo (ed.), Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, reality and ways forward (pp. 44-53). Milton Park, Oxon: Routledge.