Terrorism, Political Violence, and Extremism

A must-read for psychologists-clinical and academic alike-as well as for political scientists, policy analysts, and others working in the realm of terrorism, political violence, and extremism, this book carefully explores the theories, observations, and approaches of authorities in the field and addresses how and why terrorism has perpetuated for so long.
Terrorism is now a regular topic in the news rather than a rare or an unusual occurrence. The possibility of violent terrorist acts constitutes a legitimate safety concern, regardless of one's country of residence: no longer can anyone assume that their location is beyond the reach or outside the targeted areas of any number of terrorist groups. Terrorism, Political Violence, and Extremism: New Psychology to Understand, Face, and Defuse the Threat examines why the number of terrorist attacks has greatly increased since the attacks on September 11, 2001, including well-known events such as the Madrid train bombings (2004), the London Underground bombings (2005), the San Bernardino and Paris attacks (2015), and countless others, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
Beyond providing a careful and up-to-date assessment of the state of terrorism worldwide, which includes coverage of the religious and political origins of terrorist activities, the book pinpoints less-recognized and rarely studied aspects of terrorism, such as terrorism hysteria, sexuality, shame, and rape. The diverse perspectives within this unified volume are relevant to a breadth of subject areas, such as international psychology, military psychology, political science, political theory, religious studies, military theory, peace studies, military sciences, law enforcement, public health, sociology, anthropology, social work, law, and feminist theory.

Chris E. Stout, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, founding director of the Center for Global Initiatives, vice president of research and data analytics at ATI Holdings, LLC, and on the faculty at the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I THEORY AND OBSERVATION
CHAPTER 1 The Psychology of Terrorism
CHAPTER 2 Why ISIL and Why Now? A Psychosocial Examination of the Rise of ISIL
CHAPTER 3 Terrorist Theology, Delusion, and Apotheosis in Death
CHAPTER 4 The Psychology of War
CHAPTER 5 Psychological, Theological, and Thanatological Aspects of Suicide Terrorism
CHAPTER 6 Terror, Sexual Arousal, and Torture: The Question of Obedience or Ecstasy among Perpetrators
CHAPTER 7 War Rape: Unveiling the Complexities of Motivation and Reparation in Order to Create Lines of Peace and Empowerment
CHAPTER 8 Unresolved Trauma: Fuel for the Cycle of Violence and Domestic Terrorism
CHAPTER 9 Offensive Counterintelligence: Using Psychology to Sabotage Social Bonds in Terrorist Organizations
PART I I APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING AND HEALING
CHAPTER 10 Terror and Violence Perpetrated by Children and upon Children
CHAPTER 11 Older Adults and Terrorism
CHAPTER 12 The Psychological Impact of Terrorism on Refugee Populations
PART III QUESTIONING AUTHORITY
CHAPTER 13 Americanism: Causes, Consequences, and Growth
CHAPTER 14 Military Psychologist: An Oxymoron
Conclusion
Index
About the Editor and Contributors
About the Series Editor and Advisory Board
About the Series