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How can you identify when a movement is verging on terrorism?
In his 2005 book on the psychopathology of terror, ex-FBI agent Joe Navarro defined "violence or the threat of violence intended to exact compliance from a population."
These are 7 warning signs to watch for:
In his 2005 book on the psychopathology of terror, ex-FBI agent Joe Navarro defined "violence or the threat of violence intended to exact compliance from a population."
These are 7 warning signs to watch for:
/1 Uncompromising Ideology
Terrorism emerges from rigid ideologies that reject accommodation. Alternative views are intolerable. Persuasive ideas or evidence do not shake beliefs and may harden them.
Terrorism emerges from rigid ideologies that reject accommodation. Alternative views are intolerable. Persuasive ideas or evidence do not shake beliefs and may harden them.
/2 Intractable Mind
The mind of a terrorist is stubborn. It feeds on the "intoxicating elixir" of others' closed-minded ideas and thoughts.
Such people are often bitterly argumentative, unyielding, and unpleasant.
The mind of a terrorist is stubborn. It feeds on the "intoxicating elixir" of others' closed-minded ideas and thoughts.
Such people are often bitterly argumentative, unyielding, and unpleasant.
/3 Frustration
As the rigid ideology causes social rejection and withdrawal, the terrorist increasingly bonds solely with the like-minded. They share rage at those who ignore or oppose their ideology.
In this echo chamber, paranoia and hatred fester.
As the rigid ideology causes social rejection and withdrawal, the terrorist increasingly bonds solely with the like-minded. They share rage at those who ignore or oppose their ideology.
In this echo chamber, paranoia and hatred fester.
/4 The Lost
As philosopher Eric Hoffer observed of mass movements, many followers are the weak, discarded, and disaffected of society.
The ideology, and the clarity and solidarity it gives, fills this void.
As philosopher Eric Hoffer observed of mass movements, many followers are the weak, discarded, and disaffected of society.
The ideology, and the clarity and solidarity it gives, fills this void.
/5 Opportunists
Others attracted to mass movements, including terrorism, see in them an opportunity to commit crimes or depravities while cloaked in the claimed legitimacy of the movement.
Others attracted to mass movements, including terrorism, see in them an opportunity to commit crimes or depravities while cloaked in the claimed legitimacy of the movement.
/6 Radical Intolerance
Terrorist ideologies have had many different goals in history. In the end, they resemble one another by seeking not incremental reforms, but annihilation of "the problem" they fear and hate.
Terrorist ideologies have had many different goals in history. In the end, they resemble one another by seeking not incremental reforms, but annihilation of "the problem" they fear and hate.
/7 Magical Thinking
Unbending, violent ideologies ultimately cause adherents to experience the belief that the destruction of what they despise or hate will, in one swift blow, cure the ills of the world.
Unbending, violent ideologies ultimately cause adherents to experience the belief that the destruction of what they despise or hate will, in one swift blow, cure the ills of the world.
Found this thought-provoking? My mission is to empower people to be free from forces that want to control them. Follow me @bfcarlson for more, and consider signing up for my newsletter. bfcarlson.com
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