Terrorism - Research Paper Example

Terrorism Terrorism Terrorism epithet is defined as the use of intimidation or fear for the advancement of certain objectives,especially religious or political practices (Stout, 2002). Terrorists come from any background, community or religion. Terrorists could be young, old, female or male, young or poor. Their reasoning has been framed to make them believe that terrorism is a justifiable technique of changing the way other people think or behave. Some of the reasons why individuals become involved in terrorism activities include lack of identity or belonging, insecurity whereby becoming an extremist is the only way of guaranteeing security, defence of the culture and the way of life, coercion or being bullied into the practice, fulfilling the urge for retaliation or terrorist may have been radicalized by the extremist groups.

Possession of an extremist’s beliefs or thoughts is not a crime; unlawful use of threats or intimidation to support it is the real crime (Hannah, Clutterbuck and Rubin, 2007). Some of the functions that extremists play in a group include mass intimidation, unlawful violence and participation in the violence with an aim of changing the cultural and political system or change the way people think. The most prominent motivation factor that drives terrorism is the quest for personal meaning and significance (Sageman’s, 2004).

Other motivational factors include the quest for emotional and social support for the alienated Muslims living in the European countries, resistance of the foreign occupation, personal loss and trauma, and religious factors (Pape, 2005). Therefore, focus on psychological factors is crucial in the understanding and curbing terrorism. ReferencesHannah, G., Clutterbuck, L., & Rubin, J. (2007). Radicalization or rehabilitation: Understanding the challenge of extremist and radicalized prisoners. RAND Corporation.

Retrieved from http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2008/RAND_TR571.pdf Pape, R. A. (2005). Dying to win: The strategic logic of suicide terrorism. New York: Random House.Sageman, M. (2004). Understanding terror networks. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.Stout, C. (2002). The Psychology of Terrorism. Published by Praeger, Connecticut, US.