The Phenomenon of Suicide Bombing
- 1 May 2006
- journal article
- Published by Hogrefe Publishing Group in Crisis
- Vol. 27 (3), 107-118
- https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910.27.3.107
Abstract
This article reviews the literature on the phenomenon of suicide bombing. It addresses the question of just how much a psychological understanding of the individuals involved can aid in prevention. The article looks at historical, epidemiological, and cultural perspectives and compares the nonpsychological and psychological approaches to suicide bombing. On the basis of the material available it seems that social processes such as group-dynamic indoctrination and political factors are decisive in analyzing this problem. Cultural, nationalistic, and religious factors are important. The conclusion is that in suicidal bombing, suicide is instrumental in the context of war, not in the context of psychopathology. Suicide bombing is instrumental in realizing fatalities, and it is only one of many weapons. The act of killing in warfare is more important to understanding suicidal terrorism than the act of suicide. This explains why psychological profiling of suicidal terrorists has to date not been successful.Keywords
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- Suicide Bombers: Are Psychological Profiles Possible?Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 2004
- Neither Altruistic Suicide, nor Terrorism but Martyrdom: A Muslim PerspectiveArchives of Suicide Research, 2004
- Altruistic Suicide: A Few ReflectionsArchives of Suicide Research, 2004
- The Ethics of Self-Sacrifice: What's Wrong with Suicide Bombing?Archives of Suicide Research, 2004
- Terror Suicide: How Is It Possible?Archives of Suicide Research, 2004
- The Strategic Logic of Suicide TerrorismAmerican Political Science Review, 2003
- Palestinian Suicide Terrorism in the Second Intifada: Motivations and Organizational AspectsStudies in Conflict & Terrorism, 2003
- Suicide Bombers: Dignity, Despair, and the Need for Hope. An Interview with Eyad El SarrajJournal of Palestine Studies, 2002
- The Violent True BelieverJournal of Threat Assessment, 2001
- The Psychology of Terrorism: An Agenda for the 21st CenturyPolitical Psychology, 2000