Citation

Kacou A. Aggress. Violent Behav. 2013; 18(5): 539-547.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.avb.2013.07.010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This is a critical review of five arguments against the scholarly consensus that individual suicide terrorists are rational actors. The first three arguments are analytic, meaning that they hold that suicide terrorism is inherently irrational, based on assumptions regarding the nature of the perpetrators' interests as individuals. The fourth argument is empirical, based on alleged evidence of suicide terrorist psychopathology. And the fifth argument is pragmatic, based on the strategic implications of 'conceding' the status of rationality to enemies. This article highlights weaknesses in these arguments and considers assessing the rationality of suicide terrorists by measuring their act to cultural or community goals subject to a division of labor principle. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; Terrorism; Suicide; suicidal ideation; review; motivation; behavior; priority journal; cultural factor; religion; terrorism; defense mechanism; altruism; political system; reward; Rationality; Counterterrorism; rationality