Sec 340 - Criminology and the Criminal Justice System

SEC/340 - Criminology and the Criminal Justice System

Complexities of Terrorism

With the attacks of the world Trade Center and Pentagon by Al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001, the United States experienced terrorism on our own soil for the first time when attacks were generally overseas such as Beirut, Tanzania, and Kenya. This created the need to better understand the organizations, the terrorists themselves, and the need to have countermeasures in place to deter such actions from occurring again to such a great loss of life.

Terrorist Behavior and Psychology

With acts of terrorism, both foreign and domestic, on the increase the need to research the psychology of individuals involved is of paramount importance. This has proven to be more difficult than expected as the original thought was that there was a mental disorder involved. Research has shown that most of the terrorists examined are normal with no history of mental illness and lead normal lives until their actions. The possibility of religious motivation was also discounted as well with terrorists showing varying religious beliefs and affiliations. What was found is that terrorists are highly focused on what they wanted to do and were highly focused on completing the task.

What was found was that most terrorists are away from their home country and living independently. This led to possible loneliness and the need to adjust to their current environment and a need to fit in. This leads them to befriend others that are already members of the organization and begin to agree with the others to feel wanted. This eventually leads to the members neglecting their own families for their new surrogate family in the organization. Families interviewed stated that they would become argumentative, neglectful, and would disappear without any explanation of where they were going.

In the planning and performing their terrorist acts, the planning is both focused and they remain very calm as well as remaining committed to their group, their beliefs, and actions until the end. When the time for the attack arrives, some of the terrorists eventually have a buildup of fear and they delay in the hope that maybe someone could stop them, but most terrorist bombers do not hesitate and stay committed to the attack without any fear. Prior to the attack, terrorists do not consider whom they are attacking, the victims, and become dehumanized as they are not concerned with the number of innocent victims. The final terrorist act is the idea, rules, and survival of the group itself, (Horizon: The 7/7 Bombers - A Psychological Investigation, 2005).

Another fact the research showed was that anyone could become a terrorist after they lose their individuality, sense of self, and devote themselves blindly to the group and its beliefs and goals. Since they no longer know who they really are, they are unable to distinguish the importance of collective or individual human life. This does not allow them to realize the error in maiming or killing other people. This way, the terrorists are able to separate themselves from their proposed actions for the philosophy of the group and their variation from the normal values, (Habelow, 2003).

Compared to normal criminals, terrorists are generally assumed to be well trained and financed and, therefore, the tendency for destruction and violence is much greater. Terrorist organizations like to take credit for their actions as they feel the media publicity will add to their cause. This allows them to gain more financing to be able to operate in entire countries or internationally with multiple hideouts and safe houses in chosen geographic regions, (Gadek, 2005). Terrorism is not a random act and is planned and employed to achieve a particular goal on a specifically distinguished target. The targets chosen are normally random or unprovoked and psychological balance is what is wanted not the victim of the violence.

The motivations for terrorist acts vary from economic, political, or just for the power that comes with their actions. According to Morgan, "Terrorists crave the ultimate power, that of power over life and death of innocent people. They believe themselves to be omnipotent, messengers and agents of God, without feeling guilt or shame for anything they do," (Habelow, 2003).

Terrorists versus Violent Criminals

Although most of the public believes that terrorism