Terrorism as Altruism: An Evolutionary Model For Understanding Terrorist Psychology

Book chapter


O'Gorman, Rick and Silke, A. 2015. Terrorism as Altruism: An Evolutionary Model For Understanding Terrorist Psychology. in: Taylor, Max, Roach, Jason and Pease, Ken (ed.) Evolutionary Psychology and Terrorism Abingdon, Oxon Routledge. pp. 149-163
AuthorsO'Gorman, Rick and Silke, A.
EditorsTaylor, Max, Roach, Jason and Pease, Ken
Abstract

Terrorists are often portrayed as the lowest form of combatant, labelled as murderers, criminals and madmen. Yet, this view is counter-balanced by the fact that those who engage in terrorism do so as a small minority at great risk to themselves, and occasionally even intentionally sacrificing themselves for their war or cause. A suicide-bomber is viewed as psychotic; a regular soldier who leads his troops forward to certain death is heroic. Are these two types of combatant really so different? This chapter presents a fresh model for understanding terrorism and terrorists within the context of altruism. The chapter draws on evolutionary approaches to understanding altruism in general in human behaviour, outlining the dynamics that allow altruism to function and flourish. Specific insights and models are then applied to terrorism, providing fresh insight into our understanding of the individual psychology of terrorists as well as the contexts in which terrorist groups can emerge.

Keywordsaltruism; terrorism; terrorist; evolutionary psychology
Book titleEvolutionary Psychology and Terrorism
Page range149-163
Year2015
PublisherRoutledge
Publication dates
Print28 Aug 2015
Publication process dates
Deposited25 Apr 2017
Place of publicationAbingdon, Oxon
ISBN9781138774582
Web address (URL)https://www.routledge.com/Evolutionary-Psychology-and-Terrorism/Taylor-Roach-Pease/p/book/9781138774582
Accepted author manuscript
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/854z5

Download files

  • 315
    total views
  • 433
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 9
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

‘Radicalisation’: The Transformation of Modern Understanding of Terrorist Origins, Psychology and Motivation.
Silke, A. and Brown, Katherine 2016. ‘Radicalisation’: The Transformation of Modern Understanding of Terrorist Origins, Psychology and Motivation. in: Jayakumar, Shashi (ed.) State, Society, and National Security: Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century Singapore World Scientific. pp. 129-150
Towards an Understanding of Terrorism and the Olympics
Richards, A., Fussey, Pete and Silke, A. 2010. Towards an Understanding of Terrorism and the Olympics. in: Richards, Anthony, Fussey, Pete and Silke, Andrew (ed.) Terrorism and the Olympics London Routledge.
Critical Reflections on Securing the Olympics: Conclusions and Ways Forward
Richards, A., Fussey, Pete and Silke, A. 2010. Critical Reflections on Securing the Olympics: Conclusions and Ways Forward. in: Richards, Anthony, Fussey, Pete and Silke, Andrew (ed.) Terrorism and the Olympics London Routledge.
Understanding suicide terrorism: Insights from psychology, lessons from history
Silke, A. 2015. Understanding suicide terrorism: Insights from psychology, lessons from history. in: Pearse, John (ed.) Investigating Terrorism: Current Political, Legal and Psychological Issues Chichester Wiley Blackwell. pp. 169-179
Risk assessment of terrorist and extremist prisoners
Silke, A. 2013. Risk assessment of terrorist and extremist prisoners. in: Silke, Andrew (ed.) Prisons, Terrorism and Extremism: Critical Issues In Management, Radicalisation and Reform Abingdon Routledge. pp. 108-121
Ferocious Times: The IRA, the RIC, and Britain’s failure in 1919-1921.
Silke, A. 2016. Ferocious Times: The IRA, the RIC, and Britain’s failure in 1919-1921. Terrorism and Political Violence. 28 (3), pp. 417-434.
The Golden Age? What the 100 Most Cited Articles in Terrorism Studies Tell Us
Silke, A. and Schmidt-Petersen, Jennifer 2015. The Golden Age? What the 100 Most Cited Articles in Terrorism Studies Tell Us. Terrorism and Political Violence. 29 (4), pp. 692-712.