The mass psychology of terrorism

The most characteristic feature of terrorists is that they act with a collective spirit. Within this spirit, individual ideas and personal choice are disregarded as everyone is di­rected toward one single goal. Those who act within this collective spirit may do things they would never do in their right mind and commit acts without using their own will and consciousness. In many countries of the world, terror groups composed of a few unintelligent and uneducated people get caught up in the emotional hysteria of mass meetings, slogans, and without even knowing what they are doing and why, they get involved in committing mass atrocities.

In one moment, such people can turn into killers with blood on their hands, and even terrorists who are able to commit inhumane acts. A person may seem quiet and calm when he is alone, but when he becomes a part of a terrorist group, he may become capable of committing acts of arson and assault for no apparent reason.

Such spells are cast over individuals that they are even willing to be killed for their cause. The majority of those who take part in acts of terror often have weak wills and consciences, and they become like a flock of sheep under the influence of mass psychology. Good sense and judgement are substituted by excessive and extravagant emotionalism and a tendency toward violence and aggression. Such people are easily provoked, into­lerant and know no limitation set by any law.                  

 One of the most important characteristics of terrorism is that it selects its targets indiscriminately. The fact that it determines these targets without discrimination is one of the most important reasons for the spread of fear, because no one can feel secure. If people know that they are possible targets for no reasons, no one will feel safe from the terrorists.

There is nothing a potential target can do to protect themselves, since terrorists act according to their own rules, in a time and place of their own choosing. Thus acts of terror in society are arbitrary and unpredictable. Terrorist organizations attack their targets indiscrimi­nately which means that innocent and defenseless individu­als are killed or wounded.

Terrorists regard acts of violence as propaganda for their organizations. For them, killing innocent people, robbing banks, assassinating people, kidnapping and planting bombs all act as propaganda for their struggle. To the terrorist who is bent on wreaking chaos, what publicity a single act of violence can generate in one day is much more publicity than what millions of brochures could do.

This idea is totally foreign to every kind of human feeling of compassion, mercy, concord and tolerance; it is alien to the moral teaching and can gain only in societies with no moral at all. For this reason, the only possible solution that can save humanity from this danger is the joint actions of those who are striving for the happiness and peace of their children.

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. Why is a collective spirit the most characteristic feature of terrorists?

2. Why is it dangerous for people to become a part of a terrorist group?

3. What is one of the most important characteristics of terrorism?

4. What can a potential target do to protect themselves?

5. What acts of violence are mentioned in the text?

6. Why is the idea of terrorism totally foreign to every kind of human being?

 

3. Find English equivalents in the text:

Характерная черта; единая цель; коллективный дух; истерия массовых собраний; массовые зверства; стадо овец; склонность к насилию; границы, устанавливаемые законом; чувствовать себя в безопасности; чувство сострадания; бороться за мир и счастье.

 

Choose the correct answer.

1. The army.....defeat at the hands of its enemy.

a) bore b) suffered c) supported d) tolerated

2. The defeated army was obliged to.....to its second line of defence.

a) back away b) draw away c) retire d) retreat

3. There was a sudden.....of anger in the General's eyes as he listened to the soldier's

report.

a) fire b) flame c) flash d) shade

4. The encouraging news enabled the troops to go on with.....hope.

a) novel b) recurrent c) renewed d) renovated

5. All the information relating to the enemy officers was.....alphabetically in large cabinets.

a) composed b) crammed c) filed d) gathered

6. General Brave was placed.....command of the Western Army.

a) at b) in    c) to d) with

7. The soldier.....his gun at the enemy.

a) banged b) exploded c) fired d) shot

8. Private Daring felt proud when the general said "You.....a medal!"

a) deserve b) earn c) expect d) reserve

9. The sound of our voices was completely.....by the roar of the artillery.

a) decreased b) drowned c) reduced d) scattered

10. Schik claimed.....from military service as he was a foreign national.

a) demobilisation b) exception c) exemption d) liability

11.After two hours of hard fighting, the Northern Army won the......

a) attack b) battle c) force d) war

12.The depleted column was barely able to.....the enemy attack.

a) expel b) smash c) withhold d) withstand

13.The army claimed that during the invasion there was no.....of life.

a) death b) killing c) loss d) murder

14.The memorial in the main square.....the soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

a) celebrates b) commemorates c) recalls d) remembers

15.A feeling of tiredness almost.....the soldier on duty and he had to struggle hard to keep awake.

a) conquered b) defeated c) overcame d) put out

               

5. Use a word from the box in the correct form to complete the extracts from news go: horrors join avert fight open rage

1. The president said he is ready to........................to war against Collocania. He said he had done everything possible to........................war, but now there was no alternative.

2. A two hour battle........................in the Raguni district today after troops..................fire on rebel positions.

3. The army will continue to ……….….the war against the drug barons.

4. The president said that young persons who........................the army must expect to fight to defend their country. They would experience the........................of war, but they must be brave.

 

6. Render the text in English:

Сравнительные исследования психологии терроризма показывают, что не существует единого террористического сознания. Общий момент у различных террористических групп - сильная потребность маргинальных индивидов в присоединении к группе единомышленников. Сильная потребность в групповой принадлежности придает особую силу влиянию групповой динамики. Хотя идеология цементирует, объединяет группу и служит обоснованием ее акций, террористы не совершают теракты по идеологическим причинам. Улучшение положения с социальной справедливостью, которая, по их утверждениям, служит источником и обоснованием терроризма, не снижает притягательности терроризма для них по причине мощного влияния группы на ее членов.

Парадоксально, что политика ответного возмездия с целью сдерживания террористических актов может иметь противоположный эффект. Поскольку группа оказывается под угрозой, внешняя опасность имеет своим следствием уменьшение внутренних разногласий и объединение группы против внешнего врага. Выживание группы является делом первостепенной важности из-за чувства групповой идентичности. Ни террористическую группу, ни террористическую организацию невозможно принудить отказаться от терроризма, так как это означало бы для них потерю смысла существования.

Что касается террористических групп, поддерживаемых государством и управляемых извне, то здесь террористическая группа выступает, по существу, как военная группа под руководством центрального управляющего органа.

Несмотря на большое различие террористических групп и их целей, существует поразительное единообразие в террористическом поведении в том отношении, что террористы из различных групп слепо привержены своему делу и готовы идти до конца, даже пожертвовать жизнью за это дело.

 

7. Read and translate Text 2: