Citation

Bradley RT. Behav. Sci. Terrorism Polit. Aggres. 2011; 3(3): 198-224.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19434472.2010.512220

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This work describes the theoretical basis for a non?phonemic method of detecting membership in secret social groups, such as cults, criminal gangs, drug cartels and terrorist cells. Beginning with the basic sociological proposition that every social group develops a distinctive socio?cultural order, it is postulated that the primary features of group identity will be encoded, via a multi?level socio?psycho?physiological process, into the field of bio?emotional relations connecting group members. This information is communicated in all group?related interactions by a holographic?like process and recorded in the members? brains as a unique signature of group affiliation. The group?s identity signature should be present in measurements of interaction between members as a latent commonality marking group affiliation. It is hypothesized that the identity signature is enfolded as a hologram in the energy spectra of vocal interactions among group members. In clandestine groups, the effort to remain hidden should enhance the signal strength of the identity signature. It is expected that detection of unknown members can be achieved using the spectral commonality identified in the analysis of recordings of vocal interactions among known members as a reference signature for comparison with those of the vocal spectra of suspected or potential members.