NCJ Number
100393
Editor(s)
L Z Freedman,
Y Alexander
Date Published
1983
Length
255 pages
Annotation
Seventeen papers on terrorism are presented under the topics of the psychological dimensions of the terrorist, terrorist profiles, hostage-taking and its aftermath, and responding to terrorism.
Abstract
Papers addressing the psychological dimensions of the terrorist focus on the general construct of polistaraxia (upsetters of the community), the religious dimensions of the terrorist mind (sacrifice creates a new era), the dialectic interrelationships of personal and political factors in terrorism, and the narcissistic personality in terrorism. A paper pertaining to terrorist profiles presents demographic data, socioeconomic information, and political backgrounds for terrorists in 18 groups throughout the world. Female terrorists, the infrastructures of terrorist organizations, and a Russian terrorist from the czarist era are profiled in other papers. Papers on hostage-taking and its aftermath present data on political hostage-taking in Western Europe, examine hostage-taking in the Netherlands, and discuss hostage victimization effects. Papers in the concluding section review counterterrorism policy and organizational and tactical issues. Chapter notes and subject index.