Assignment:
Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
1. All readings to date
2. Lectures (all from Weeks)
3. Lists of terrorists:
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists
https://www.nctc.gov/site/profiles/a-c.html
4. Independent research (various resources for background research on the subject of your profile; minimum of 2 peer-reviewed resource for theoretical perspectives)
Introduction
The rationale for this activity is the activation of course knowledge with a real-world application of psychology of terrorism.
Activity Instructions
The Case Analysis Paper. Review the instructions and requirements for the assignment.
This assignment is designed as an exercise in case conceptualization to develop your skill in reviewing and assessing an actual individual terrorist. The task is to present a comprehensive formulation which integrates etiology, theory, and research, as they apply to a specific person.
Choose one of the terrorists provided in the following links or in the handouts for this activity, or obtain approval for a group not listed:
Lists of terrorists:
https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists
https://www.nctc.gov/site/profiles/a-c.html
In a written report explain the following (use as headings in your paper):
1. Briefly summarize the background of the person, groups members (if applies) and description of terrorist activities or acts.
2. The external or environmental factors (social) that might be relevant in the etiology of the individual's behavior.
3. The different psychological concepts or perspectives in your readings or independent research which might be applicable to this particular person and how they apply. You can choice one (or more) theory and apply it to the case (e.g. psychology concepts, diagnosis and/or research-"this individal's behavior may be a result of strong aggression and/or id impulses and a poorly developed Superego as described by Freud ...etc.). See readings or research and links for theory suggestions).
- References are expected for this case paper, but watch use of web-page citations. Research articles and books as references will help you get more points. Wikipedia and like web sites are not acceptable references in an academic paper. One can use web-sites provided or government web-sites for the background research on the (subject) in your profile-but theory section references should be from good peer-reviewed references such as an academic book or articles (including readings and out journal articles or books).
- Remember these papers are to answer the question of "WHY" and "HOW" did this /group person do what they did? What caused it? What were the critical psychological events or processes that laid the foundation for their acts.
4. What preventative actions or intervention/counterterrorism approaches may have made a difference in this individual's case? Be sure to cite relevant literature if possible (hint: look at course texts).
To complete this assignment, you will need to be concise in covering each of the above five items.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
- Minimum of 8 pages (approx. 300 words per page), not including title page or references page
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page with topic and name of student
- References page (various resources for background research on the subject of your profile; minimum of 2 peer-reviewed resource for theoretical perspectives)
- No abstract needed