CFP: Moral Psychology of Terrorism: Implications for Security

The terrorism of the past decade has been driven by the interface of psychology, morality, faith, religion, and politics. This modern terrorism reflects terrorists’ pursuit of their beliefs and even aggressive promotion of the exclusivity of their world-views at the expense of the lives of those who do not share them. In this sense, the act of terrorism is fueled by arguments of morality and views that are rooted in the psyches and beliefs of terrorists.

Recent terrorism, wherever it spreads, under the banner of major monotheistic religious traditions or Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, brings into the forefront the need to better understand the moral psychology of terrorism. This need is more critical in the areas where youths might be recruited and socialized or ‘brain-washed’ by terrorist leaders. The heinous events committed by terrorists and sympathizers against the citizens of New York, London, Madrid, Bombay, and various cities of Pakistan and Afghanistan further emphasize the need to understand terrorists’ moral psychology.

Examination of the moral psychology of terrorism opens up new insights into security issues. Indeed, a link between the psychology of terrorism and security analysis must be made. That is to say, terrorism and anti-terrorism measures must not be restricted to political and military plans. Rather, identifying and addressing terrorism and its implications for security requires that scholars and politicians delve deeper into the psyches of terrorists to avoid further insecurity.

Tentative Conference Themes

Conference topics include, but are not limited to the following areas:

Part One: Terrorism, Morality and Psychology

• Psychological theories of terrorism
• Psychological issues in understanding of terrorism
• Unresolved traumas and the cycle of terrorism
• Moral-psychological responses to terrorism at personal and community levels
• Hate groups and terrorism
• Youth and terrorism: How may psycho-educational approaches help treatment of terrorism?

Part Two: Terrorism and Security Issues

• Encountering insecurity in the minds of terrorists
• Psychological de-radicalization and security considerations
• New terrorist mindsets and security dilemmas
• Examination of the one-sidedness of security measures and strategies
• War on terror and terrorist responses; a futile cycle

Part Three: Terrorism, Religion, and Implications for Security Issues

• Healing the psychology of terrorism; role of religious communities
• Religious communities and assessment of the youth potential for terrorism
• Radicalizing communications in religious communities

Part Four: Religious-Based Case Studies

• How Islamist terrorists socialize (brain-wash?) and train new recruits
• Anger against the west; truth or delusion?
• Moral psychology of Al-Qaeda
• Christian motivations behind terrorist groups
• Psychology of terror in Jewish perspective
• Within the mind of Sikh extremism

Part Five: Alternatives for Transformation

• What to do for misperceptions of religion and violence
• The promise of reformed religious faith
• The sense of being human versus selfishness and terrorism

Submit a Proposal

For consideration please send an abstract (250 word maximum) and a short biography (approximately 150 words) no later than December 30, 2011 to any of the below-listed organizers of the conference. The Committee will review the proposals and respond by the end of January 2012.