TEXT:
Reading
1. Moral Psychology of Terrorism (2013) Introduction
2. Horgan, J. G. (2017). Psychology of terrorism: Introduction to the special issue. American Psychologist, 72(3), 199-204.
Forum Assignment for the Week: 300 Words minimum
This week, in our forum, we consider the ways in which fundamentalism has been a foundational basis of terrorist structure. Seen in societal roots, fundamentalist approaches have been used to separate factions within the larger society, a method favorable for terrorist conditions.
Unger (2002) noted, "That worldviews share certain features, including abdication of moral responsibility to a source outside oneself..." (p.44). In what Unger (2002) identifies as "ideology-maintaining mechanisms", individuals are able to discard the views of others not sharing similar "truths" (p. 44).
o After reviewing the course materials for the week, discuss the role identify religious fundamentalism has had in the display of terrorist organization and behavior from a historical perspective that you perceive as most influential.
o Share your thoughts on whether fundamentalism can be a positive force in the preventing terrorist engagement, as well as a negative force in promoting such engagement. Provide details to support your rationale.
Reference
Unger, R. (2002). Them and us: Hidden ideologies-differences in degree or kind? Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 43-52.
Your post must also end with a "Question to the Class" - something related to the topic that you found thought-provoking and about which you'd like to know more and have further dialog.
General Instructions Applicable to All Forums:
Forum post source citation is not required for forum posting in our class. This is because we are engaging in conversation that happens to be in writing form, not composing essays or research papers. You will, however, need to paraphrase (restate in your own words) any words of published authors in parts of your posts that are based on their work.
Copying of published material, which is plagiarism, is prohibited and any instances of it, including forum posts, will result in a zero score without an option for re-submission to recoup lost points and a report sent to the Registrar's Office per University policy.
Discussion forum posts will be graded on verbal expression, critical thinking, making an effort to not just participate in but contribute to the dialog with initial and reply posts of a substantive nature commensurate with graduate level studies. Posts must have correct grammatical construction, spelling, and punctuation with no texting or other casual style language.