Psychological manipulation and leadership tactics in terrorist organizations

Terrorist Group Leaders

Tools and Techniques Used by Terrorist Group Leaders to Influence their Followers

In his article, War, Psychology, and Time, Friedman (2007) shows how Osama bin Laden employed a psychological strategy in an attempt to create a massive Islamic empire in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The disintegration of the union provided an ideal opportunity for bin Laden to demonstrate to the world that America was actually weak and could be severely hurt. For bin Laden, the Muslim world \"suffered from a psychology of defeat\" following America\'s triumph over the Soviet Union and it was therefore important for Muslims to show their might and create terror (Friedman, 2007). The use of psychology to advance terrorist ideologies is not limited to bin Laden and al Qaeda. Indeed, leaders of terrorist groups capitalize on psychological techniques to recruit and influence their followers (Victoroff, 2005). This paper explains the various tools and techniques used by terrorist group leaders (irrespective of ideology, agenda, and motivation) to influence the psychological and behavioral factors of their followers.

Though terrorist leaders and groups are inspired by different ideologies, agendas, goals, and objectives, there tend to be significant similarities in their psychological and behavioral factors. First, terrorist leaders espouse the belief that social and political change can only be achieved through terrorism (Corte, 2007). Using the art of propaganda, terrorist leaders socialize their followers into this belief. Indeed, the spread of terrorism and that of propaganda work in a similar fashion. In most cases, terrorist groups emanate from minority groups that feel marginalized by the majority mainly on political, social, and religious issues. The minorities then attempt to influence the majority to consider their views and interests. Through persistence, the minority may successfully change or influence the majority. Terrorist leaders use a similar approach. By propagating fear and terror via violence, they communicate a certain message and manipulate commonly held perceptions. They see terror as a way of not only advancing their political and religious demands, but also directing the attention of people to certain issues, which may be real, overstated, or fabricated (Corte, 2007).

The belief that social and political change can only be achieved through terrorism has particularly been evident in terrorism directed towards the U.S. Feeling that they cannot openly confront, restrain, or defeat the U.S., adversaries (both state and non-state actors) have used terrorism to oppose or attack the country (Department of State, 2007). These adversaries see the U.S. as particularly prone to the psychological effects generated by terrorism. The U.S., for instance, tends to be excessively averse to casualties and any loss of life is often taken out of proportion. For terrorist leaders, such psychological vulnerabilities are valuable tools for influencing their followers.

Demographically, terrorists do not have a uniform profile. Indeed, terrorist groups comprise members with different backgrounds and personal attributes, ranging from low income to high income individuals, as well as men, women, married, teenagers, and educated individuals. The diversity of demographic profiles makes the description of terrorist behaviors quite difficult. This further demonstrates that terrorist groups focus more on psychological dimensions as opposed to demographic factors (Victoroff, 2005).

Regardless of their objectives, terrorists tend to have utopian or idealized goals (Department of State, 2007). This utopianism is manifested by their excessive intolerance for those who do not share their ideology. Terrorist leaders, therefore, portray terror and violence as acceptable methods of achieving their ends. They see political and social issues as too critical to be solved by any other technique other than extreme methods. For instance, they indoctrinate their followers to the belief that suicide bombing, murder, indiscriminate killing, dehumanization of non-members, and other extreme techniques are acceptable methods of advancing their interests. Terrorist leaders may also indoctrinate their followers to view power, authority, notoriety, rebellion, freedom from social norms, and money as emotionally fulfilling.

For terrorist leaders, organizational commitment is perhaps more important than anything else. They train their followers to be extremely loyal, secretive, and committed to the group\'s ideology and motives (Department of State, 2007). No one in a terrorist group wants to look less committed to the group than other members, oppose group proposals, or appear as a traitor. Indeed, signs of diminishing commitment or betrayal are often addressed with ruthless measures such as excommunication, torture, and even murder. To enforce this sense of group commitment, terrorist leaders constantly depict themselves as strong, determined, and unwavering. By appearing timid, a leader may lose their power over the group, which may eventually be detrimental to the objectives of the group.