Terrorist activity and its effects

SOS-440 Terrorism

When determining the motives of terrorists, there are two issues to consider: the psychology of the individual, and the sociological impact of the group. While both of these are very important, they are not equal. The impact of the group is more significant when it comes to how a person feels about engaging in terrorist activity, and whether that person may have motives that are focused on and that allow that activity to be carried out. In other words, something as simple as what many people would call "peer pressure" is a serious factor when it comes to the motives of terrorists. One person may not make much difference, but when that one person joins a group that has shared beliefs and common goals, the motives of the entire group quickly become more focused on a particular idea or plan. That is one of the ways in which terrorism builds and becomes more pervasive in some cultures.

While the psychology of an individual who willfully gets involved in a terrorist organization is also important, one of the main issues surrounds how that person can be swayed by the ideas and thoughts of a group of his or her peers. It is the group mentality and motivation that becomes very important and significant, as it can affect what the individuals thinks he or she really wants. Being swayed by "groupthink" is a very common problem, and it is not just limited to the boardroom. It can happen in nearly any situation, to almost any type of person, especially when he or she is around a lot of people who are very committed to something. Terrorists fall into that category of commitment, as they can be fanatically devoted to their particular cause. When people who are easily swayed and/or are seeking something in their lives fall into being friends or colleagues with those who have terrorist connections, they can want so much to be accepted that they go along with committing acts of terrorism, often just to be accepted by others.