Graduation Year
2018
Date of Submission
4-2018
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
International Relations
Reader 1
William Ascher
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
2018 Sydney F Flynn
Abstract
This paper aims to address possible psychoanalytical explanations for the heinous acts in which terrorists, particularly ISIS, engage. It focuses on Harold D. Lasswell’s principles of the id, ego, and superego as well as Tajfel and Turner’s social identity theory. Within the framework of these two theories, relevant psychological and social psychological theories are discussed in order to explore a possible connection between the psyche of violent perpetrators and their actions. By exploring these connections, I find that there may be more nuanced psychological explanations for these violent acts, which could lead to new methods of weakening perceived biases, intergroup conflicts, and extremist behavior.
Recommended Citation
Flynn, Sydney, "Applying Psychological Theories of Personality, Identity, and Intergroup Conflict to Radical Violence: A Case Study of Extremist Behavior" (2018). CMC Senior Theses. 1890.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1890
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons, International Relations Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, Political Theory Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Theory and Philosophy Commons
