A Model of the Psychological Causes of Oppositional Political Terrorism

Abstract

In this article, I outline a series of factors and hypotheses, which are logically connected and amenable to empirical testing, concerning the psychological causes of oppositional political terrorism. I then develop a model of this process. The variables, hypotheses, and model are derived from research descriptive of and associated with the psychological dynamics of terrorism. This model seeks to avoid the overgeneralization and reductionism prevalent in this area of research. I also propose ways in which hypotheses of the model can be tested.

Keywords: oppositional political terrorism, factors, hypotheses, psychological causes, models, variables, empirical testing, psychological dynamics,

JEL Classification: H56, K14, K19, K33, K39, K49