Terrorist Behaviour - Between Psychological and Social

The paper captures some of the trends in terrorist behaviour based on an analysis of demographic, historical, psychological and political factors. Rational choice theory also shows that this behavioural tendency is nothing more than an adaptation to, or a rejection of, governmental policy changes. The causes of terrorism are complex and multi-dimensional, including social, political, economic, cultural and psychological aspects. One of the most common causes of terrorism is discrimination, i.e. perceived oppression or discrimination against an ethnic, religious or cultural group; and political conflict (terrorism can be used as a means to influence political decisions). Sociologically, even criminologically, terrorism cannot be reduced to the form of insanity or mental disorder, as it is essentially a political act with political aims. It can also be pointed out that some terrorists may suffer from psychiatric problems or behavioural disorders, but the causes of terrorism go much deeper, such as social frustration, moral indignation, the desire to change an unjust situation or to achieve a specific political goal.