How do Terrorists Justify their Actions - Essay Example

Terrorism is the process of using terror as a weapon to affect the lives of common people and is used by terrorist groups across the world. The intentions of such terrorists might be to achieve something for themselves for which they make use of the fear among people and wish to get their work done by society. In the process, several innocent people lose their lives, and families or might become homeless; such incidents are innumerable. The report focuses on how terrorists justify their actions particularly when innocent people have to lose their lives in their courses of attacks.

Justification of Terrorist Actions:
It can be understood that a terrorist might not be born a terrorist. Some factors then in his life could be responsible for his becoming a terrorist and not being any other professional. The activities of the terrorists might not be justified from the point of view of the common people who are killed. However, the actions of terrorists might have their own justifications.

It might also be that the individuals involved in terrorism might possess mental disorders or they are psychologically weak and suffer from a lack of power (Saul, 2006).
There might be personal factors or at times different situations might be responsible for compelling the individuals to perform such heinous acts. Violent acts can be closely associated with psychological difficulties within an individual (Borum, 2004, p.10).

Thus psychological factors may be considered as one serious reason for justifying the acts of terrorists. Group reinforcement is another factor of concern. Many times, the probability or the rate of performing such acts may increase as an effect of group reinforcement where the terrorist groups may be responsible for compelling an individual to take such measures (Fatout, 1992, p.63). Thus, the group of terrorists of which an individual has become part might influence the individual to perform such acts. Group reinforcement in such a case would occur if the group provides the individual with some offer that the individual might require in his life. Thus in order to satisfy the need, the individual might follow the group.

Conclusion:
The activities of terrorists have significantly increased over the years and the manner in which innocent people lose their lives in their attacks is shameful and sad. However, if the terrorists’ lives are studied it might be realized that there could be justifications behind their actions. If such root causes can be detected, it might be possible that such heinous activities could be prevented.