Psychosocial Motivators of Suicide Bombing (Essay Sample)

Psycho-social Motivators of Suicide Bombing <Name> <Course Name and Section> <Instructor> <Date> Introduction Suicide attacks have become common tools of barbarism in the modern day. The concept of suicide terrorism became popular with extremists during the latter part of the 20th century. Today, it has become one of the most common means used by extremists to kill and injure people around the world. A concept that started in the Middle East nations of Iraq, Iran, and Syria has spread across the entire globe. The world has experienced barbaric suicide bombs in the recent months. For example, a suicide bomber recently killed 50 people and injured a lot more in Turkey. Given the frequency at which these attacks are happening, it is important to investigate this issue and determine how law enforcers can be helped to understand the concept. In the current paper, attention is directed towards understanding the psycho-social processes through which an individual becomes a suicide bomber. The paper posits that suicide terrorism is a complex situation which cannot be understood without focusing on the mental state of the bombers and the social-cultural dimensions in their community. Case Study Ali (not his real name) received a backpack from Gerald (not his real name). He was reminded of the instructions that he was supposed to follow in order to execute the plan fully. After receiving the backpack, he went on his knees and recited a prayer before setting off for the church. He thought of the instructions and training that he had received from Gerald. He remembered spending the last 30 minutes wearing the suicide vest at Gerald’s apartment. Further, he smiled when he thought of the almighty leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Upon thinking about Baghdadi, Ali hurried in order to execute the mission within the shortest time possible. From his location he could see the target; the Catholic Church in Suma The foregoing scenario captures the preparation time for a boy whose mission was to execute a terror attack at a church in Indonesia. The 17 year old boy was in a suicide vest and several other crude weapons. Such weapons included an axe, knife and a pipe bomb. He entered the church and proceeded to the priest who was presiding over the tried to stab him in the stomach. At the same time, the boy tried to detonate the vest only for it to produce a few sparks. After the failed attempt, Ali panicked and was captured by some members of the congregation who later passed him on the authorities. Upon further search, the police found a drawing that resembled the ISIS flag and phone. The phone contained videos of the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In addition, the police recovered a note from of the backpack’s pockets that read "I Love al-Baghdadi.” Underlying Principles in Suicide Bombing According to Bhatia and Knight (2011), suicide bombing can be understood from the dimension of social psychologist. This is a branch of psychology that deals with the scientific analysis of the way human beings affect the emotions, feelings, attitudes and behaviors of one another. It has been argues that social influence is one of the doctrines affecting the behavior, attitudes and beliefs of people in the society and in organizations. As Gill (2008) observes, social influence is a complex issue that does not take place in a single dimension. People can influence each other deliberately or non-deliberately. Deliberate influence happens when a person intends to influence the judgment and thinking of another and procures all the necessary means that will enable him to achieve this goal. On the other hand, some people can influence other in a non-deliberate way. For example, the charismatic leaders in the society change a lot of people without their knowledge. When it comes to terrorism, all factors remain constant. In other words, terrorists utilize social psychology to gain influence, popularity and power among the masses. The acts of violence and radicalization are aimed at interfering with the psychological makeup of the people, government officials, et cetera. With such manipulation, terrorists are able to make their points. Rationality of Suicide Bombers One of the psycho-social factors that must be examined when it comes to suicide bombing is the rationality of the suicide bombers. As Atran (2006) observes, rationality refers to the state of selecting an option that avails increased chances of success and the lowest likelihood of failure. The question whether suicide bombers are rational can only be answered after determining their goals. As Atran (2006) notes, terrorists organizations are usually concerned with staying relevant and claiming power even where none exists. Apart from that, terrorist attacks may be motivated by revenge, retaliation and own initiative. Irrespective of the form that the suicide attack assumes, the element of achieving a certain goal remains intact. Since it has been established that all organizations are committed to following a certain projection in order to achieve the anticipated goal it cannot be disputed that suicide bombs are executed having complied with all rules of rationality. As Miller (2006) affirms, it has been noted on several occasions that terrorist organizations as well terrorists who might be acting on their own follow the opportunism theory. Opportunism theory connotes that people tend to choose the option that has the highest gains and the lowest losses. That is to mean terrorists, such as Ali (in the case study) are inclined to avoid undertaking missions that are very dangerous while having very little chances of success. Thus, they are committed at doing anything that will reduce their chances of failure while boosting the chances of success. In the case of Ali, for example, the ISIS must have identified its goal as bombing the church and its congregation. Gerald, the man in charge of the operation, chose to use a child because he would not have been suspected as a much as an adult offender. Such a condition affirms that terrorist organizations must are entirely rational and none of their actions are guessed. However, scholars such as Beck (2002) argue that the actions of suicide bombers are not entirely rational. In advancing this argument, this faction of scholars is usually driven by the thesis that suicide bombers are people of unsound mind and are not aware of the consequences of their choices. For example, Hardcastle (2014) argues that the notion of "outcome oriented" actions cannot be used to explain why a person would agree to wear a suicide vest with full knowledge that he will die. However, this argument has since then been rebutted by the observation that terrorist organizations operate in forms of campaigns. More often than not, it is not the individual who makes the decision as to whether he will become a suicide bomber. The particular incident is usually planned beforehand by the officials in the organization. In the due time, worthy and trusted people are chosen to execute the mission. Most of the people chosen to execute suicide attacks are usually brainwashed and made to believe that the action has a cosmic significance. Therefore, it stands clear that terrorists and terrorist organizations act rationally all the time. Social Interactions and Suicide Attack Social interaction is one of the ways in which individuals can become suicide bombers. Merrari (2006) argues that recruitment to a terrorism organization follows an accumulation of many processes that involve group and dynamics and alignment with certain values and beliefs. In fact, Atran (2006) likens recruitment to a terror organization to joining a group that is characterized by violence and radicalization. Miller (2006) adds that the process of converting from a normal person to a suicide bomber is similar to the adaptation that people undergo when they join a new school. The nature of the socialization that the person will undergo determines his values, attitudes and practices. Thus, Matusitz (2015) posits that previously normal people could become suicide bombers after interacting with persons who are connected to terror organizations. The foregoing could explain why Ali was involved the narrated incident. Notably, Gerald manipulated his love for Baghdadi to lure him into committing attack. This speculation is backed up the argument that by Wright (2015) that social interaction yields unity and cohesion in a group with the same aim. For that unity, one could go to the extents of surrendering their lives if that forms part of what the group believes in. Social Identity and Suicide Bombing Research from multiple sources indicate that people who join terrorist organizations are often drive by the need for self-identity. Radicalization literature such Wright (2015) indicate that most suicide bombers begin with a search for identity and recognition. As Matusitz (2015) notes, suicide bombers are usually associated with unstable minds and troubled thinking. This is usually associated with pain and suffering that one could have experienced in the past. For example, rejection and alienation from a certain group could be the beginning of radicalization in an individual. The person transforms fully when he is recruited into the terrorism organization. Apart from giving him a social identity, the organization seems to give his life meaning. Seeing that he is accepted and recognized, this individual is highly likely to pledge allegiance to the organization. The same seems to have applied to Ali. As a child, Ali had faced a lot of rejection from his peers. Most of the neighborhood friends isolated him and often bullied him out of the group. His obsession with Al-Baghdadi could be attributed to his need for revenge and retaliation against his peers. Suicide bombers possess what could be term...