Clinical and psychological aspects of adolescent involvement in extremist and terrorist activities

740

Abstract

The article deals with the clinical and psychological aspects of including minors in terrorist and extremist activities. In the historical perspective, it was traced how the views on the role of mental disorders in the genesis of such crimes changed. It is shown that terrorist and extremist activity must be viewed as a complex multi-factor phenomenon, in which socio-psychological components play a leading role. It is noted that the psychopathological process can act as a prerequisite for inclusion in such radical groups. Psychoanalytic, sociological, cognitive approaches, theories of social learning and the concept of diffuse ego-identity making attempts to explain the mechanisms of terrorist and extremist activity in minors are analyzed. The problem of insufficient study of the influence of the Internet and social networks on the formation of readiness for admission to adolescents in radical organizations is posed.

General Information

Keywords: adolescent offenders, terrorism, extremism.

Journal rubric: Forensic and Clinical Psychology in Legal Context

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2017060210

For citation: Oshevsky D.S. Clinical and psychological aspects of adolescent involvement in extremist and terrorist activities [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2017. Vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 123–132. DOI: 10.17759/psylaw.2017060210. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Gurina O.D. Issledovanie smyslovykh konstruktov, otrazhaiushchikh otnoshenie k natsional'nostiam i natsionalizmu u podrostkov-pravonarushitelei [The study of semantic constructs reflecting the attitude towards nationalities and nationalism in juvenile offenders] Psikhologicheskaja nauka i obrazovanie PSYEDU.ru [Psychological Science and Education psyedu.ru], 2014. Vol. 6. no. 3. pp. 70–81. doi:10.17759/psyedu.2014060308 (Accessed 10.05.2017). (in Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
  2. Dozortseva E.G., Malantseva O.D. Ksenofobija i molodezhnyi ekstremizm: istoki i vzaimosviazi [Xenophobia and youth extremism: origins and interrelations] Psikhologicheskaja nauka i obrazovanie PSYEDU.ru [Psychological Science and Education psyedu.ru], 2012. no. 2. Available at: https://psyjournals.ru/psyedu_ru/2012/n2/53445_full.shtml (Accessed 10.05.2017). (in Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
  3. Kondrat'ev F.V., Oskolkova S.N. Problema religioznyh kul'tovyh novoobrazovanij («sekt») v psihologo-psihiatricheskom aspekte [The problem of religious religious neoplasms ("sects") in the psycho-psychiatric aspect]: Analiticheskij obzor. Moscow: Publ. GNC SiSP im. V.P.Serbskogo MZ RF, 2000. 100 p.
  4. Oshevskij D.S. Negativnye sotsial'nye ustanovki i smyslovye konstrukty u podrostkov, sovershivshikh agressivnye protivopravnye deyanija na natsional'noi pochve [Negative social attitudes and semantic constructs in adolescents who have committed violent criminal acts on national ground]. Yuridicheskaja psikhologija [Juridical psychology], 2012. no. 3, pp. 30–34. (in Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
  5. Oshevskij D.S., Badmaeva V.D., Golub S.V., Fastovcov G.A. Psihologo-psihiatricheskie aspekty ehkspertnoj kvalifikacii shizotipicheskogo rasstrojstva u nesovershennoletnego obvinyaemogo v terroristicheskoj deyatel'nosti  [Psychological and psychiatric aspects of the expert qualification of a schizotypal disorder in a juvenile accused in terrorist activity]// Praktika sudebno- psihiatricheskoj ehkspertizy. no. 52. In. Fastovcov G.A. (ed.) M.: Publ. FGBU «GNCSSP im. V.P. Serbskogo» Minzdrava Rossii, 2014 pp. 256- 270.
  6. Akhtar S. The Psychodynamic dimension of terrorism // Psychiatric Annals. 1999. no. 29 (6). pp. 350-355.
  7. Bandura A. Aggression: a social learning analysis. New York: Prentice Hall, 1973. 266 p.
  8. Bartol C.R. Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach. 9 th ed. New York: Prentice Hall, 2010. 672 p.
  9. Borum R. Psychological vulnerabilities and propensities for involvement in violent extremism // Behavioral Sciences and the Law. 2014. no. 32(3). pp. 286-305.
  10. Borum R. Assessing risk for terrorism involvement // Journal Threat Assessment and Management. 2015. no. 2. pp. 63-87.
  11. Crick N.R., Dodge K.A. A review and reformulation of social information processing mechanisms in children`s social adjustment. // Psychopathological Bulletin. 1994. no. 2. pp. 74-101.
  12. Crayton J.W. Terrorism and Psychology of the Self // Perspectives on Terrorism. Wilmington, Delaware: Scholarly Resources. 1983. pp. 33-41.
  13. Crossett C., Spitaletta J. Radicalization: Relevant psychological and sociological concepts. The Johns Hopkins University: U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group. 2010. 110 р.
  14. Elliott D.S., Menard S. Delinquent friends and delinquent behavior: Temporal and developmental patterns //Delinquency and crime: current theories. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. pp 28-67.
  15. Erikson E.H. Identity, youth and crisis. New York: W. W. Norton Company, 1968. 336 p.
  16. Farrington D. Multiple Risk Factors for Multiple Problem. //Multi-problem violent youth. Cracow, 2002. pp.23-35.
  17. Kent О., Wieg Т. Terrorist and victim: psychiatric and physiological approaches // Terrorism: an international journal. 1985. no. 8 (1). pp. 1-32.
  18. Liebert R.M., Poulos R.W., Marmor G.S. Developmental psychology. Ed. E. Cliffs New York: Prentice Hal. 1977. 102 р.
  19. Huesmann L.R. Eron L.D. Cognitive processes and the persistence of aggressive behavior. // Aggressive behavior. 1984. no. 10. pp. 243-251.
  20. Melle I. The Breivik case and what psychiatrists can learn from it // World Psychiatry. 2013. no. 12. pp.16-21.
  21. Meloy J.R., Yakeley J. The violent true believer as a “lone wolf“ – psychoanalytic perspectives on terrorism // Behavioral Sciences and the Law. 2014. no. 32. pp. 347- 365.
  22. Monahan J. The individual risk assessment of terrorism. // Psychology, Public Policy & the Law. 2012. no. 18. pp. 167-205.
  23. Monahan J. The individual risk assessment of terrorism: recent developments // The handbook of the criminology of terrorism. Еds. LaFree G. Freilich J. New York: John Wiley and Son, 2016. 243 р.
  24. Post J.M. Terrorist psychological: terrorist behavior as a product of psychological forces // Origins of terrorism: psychologies, ideologies, theologies, states of mind. New York: Cambridge University press, 1990. pp.25-40.
  25. Peay J. Mentally disordered offenders, mental health and crime // The Oxford handbook of criminology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press 2002. pp.746-791.
  26. Research on terrorism: trends, achievements and failures. Ed. А. Silke. London: Frank Cass. 2004. 235 р.
  27. Taylor M. The terrorist. London: Brassey’s, 1988. 249 р.
  28. Terrorism: Reflections on issues, concepts, and directions. Eds. Moghaddam F.M., Marsella A. Understanding Terrorism: Psychosocial Roots, consequences, and interventions Washington: DC: American Psychological Association, 2003. 302 p.
  29. Weatherston D., Moran J. Terrorism and mental illness: Is there a relationship? // Offender Ther Comp Criminol December. 2003. no. 47. pp. 698-713.
  30. West L.J. Cults, liberty, and mind control //The rationalization of terrorism. New York: University Publications of America, 1982. pp. 101-107.
  31. Wood W., Wong F.Y., Cachere J. G. Effects of media violence on viewers aggression in uncon­strained social interaction. //Psychological Bulletin. 1991. no. 109. pp. 371-383.
  32.  

Information About the Authors

Dmitry S. Oshevsky, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Psychology, V. P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Associate Professor of the Department of Legal Psychology and Law, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Center for Mental Health" Leading Researcher of the Department of Organization of Psychiatric Services, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3465-6302, e-mail: oshevsky@serbsky.ru

Metrics

Views

Total: 3455
Previous month: 26
Current month: 16

Downloads

Total: 740
Previous month: 3
Current month: 2