The mass psychology of terrorism

UNIT

WAR AND TERRORISM

1. Read and translate Text 1:

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.