Individual Radicalization

Arie Kruglanski University of Maryland Radicalization into Terrorism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Sri Lanka One of the most violent organizations Carried out many associations Very well organized (air tigers, sea tigers, black (suicide) tigers)

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Sri Lankan government mobilized massive offensive against LTTE members Captured approximately 12,000 and put them in rehabilitation camps in Sri Lanka prisons

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Black (suicide) Tamil Tigers How are Black Tamil Tigers Recruited? Total commitment: exclusion of all else

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Interviewed Sri Lankan Army Official He discussed interview process for Black Tamil Tigers Person who noticed more things in waiting room was not selected, as it was said that their mind was wandering and do not have sufficient focus

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Quote from Black Tamil Tiger:

Family and relationships are forgotten in that place. There was no place for love. That means a passion and loyalty to that group, to those in charge, to those who sacrificed their lives for the group. Then I came to a stage where I had no love for myself. I had no value for my life. I was ready to give myself fully, even to destroy myself, in order to destroy another person.

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Total Commitment
A question of motivation:
The quest for personal significance The desire to be somebody; to matter; status; recognition; respect

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

How is this Motivation Activated?

Loss of significance Such loss of significance can be personal or social (humiliation of ones group) Examples that cause stigma or dishonor:
Divorce HIV

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Example:

Group grievance as humiliation tool in Al Qaeda propaganda Quote from Abu Yahya al Libi: Jihad in Algeria today is YOUR hope with permission from Allah in redemption from the hell of the unjust ruling regimes whose prisons are congested with YOUR youths and children if not with YOUR women; [regime] which thrust its armies, police, and intelligence to oppress YOU, for which they opened the doors to punish YOU So join YOUR efforts to theirs, add YOUR energies to theirs and know that their victory is YOUR victoryTheir salvation is YOUR salvation.

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Quest for Significance is Not Enough!

All people desire significance and respect However not all people become violent terrorists The role of terrorism justifying ideology provides the means to significance: violent extremism for a cause

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Quest for Significance is Not Enough!

Quest for Significance + Terrorist Ideology = Terrorism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Example
Moroccan immigrants into Spain

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Findings

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Example
Pilipino terrorist members of Abu Sayyaf One of the most vicious organizations in the Philippines Investigated the detainees in a prison in Manila They responded to questionnaires on computers Inquired about degree they feel a loss of significance, identify with an ideology and endorse extremism

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Findings

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Example
LTTE detainees All male detainees (N = 553) M age = 28.25 years (Min = 18; Max = 56) M months of detention = 7.02 (SD = .21) Education:
59% had less than 10 years of education 41% finished High-School, graduated College or a bachelors degree

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Example
LTTE detainees All male detainees (N = 553) M age = 28.25 years (Min = 18; Max = 56) M months of detention = 7.02 (SD = .21) Education:
59% had less than 10 years of education 41% finished High-School, graduated College or a bachelors degree

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Research Findings

National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism

Psychology of Violence
Promoted by quest for significance Quest leads to embracement of an ideology that shows you how to obtain significance To the extent that this ideology suggests that significance is obtained through violence, then violence is supported Commitment to that ideology and focusing on quest for significance leads to terrorism