Essay Viewing Terrorism through Social Psychology

Acts of terrorism are becoming increasingly common in todays society. From the frequent suicide bombings in Israel, the recent violence in the Russian village of Beslan, to the attacks on the world trade centers on September the eleventh of 2001 that so violently shook the world; terrorism is rarely far from our minds. Terrorist groups have a variety of aims, acts of revenge, politics, but by far the most common, and arguably most disturbing reason for these actions is religion. It is exceptionally important that we can learn to understand the forces that drive people to commit such wanton acts of destruction, and social psychology can help us to do that. Social psychology is a diverse field of study, it is the scientific†¦show more content†¦The teachers were then taken to another room with a scientist, where they could hear but not see the learners. The learners were asked a series of questions and if a wrong answer was given the teacher was asked to give an electric shock, of increasing power with each incorrect answer, as punishment. While many of the participants seemed unhappy with carrying out this task none of them stopped, especially after the scientist present said that it was their duty to continue this action, and in fact many increased the voltage to levels none of the experimenters predicted. This experiment was repeated with the learners in view, and while the teachers were less willing they still continued the punishment. This is demonstrative of the power of persuasion by authority figures. Milgrams research into the obedience of authority shows how simple it is to influence someones thoughts and actions, to the point where they are willing to commit great harm against other humans. All that is required is a certain amount of charisma and a commanding manner. This experiment was a clear example of the effect of the immediate social context, it shows how the immediate influence of an authoritarian presence can drive an individual to acts of violence. It is interesting to note that most terrorists (with the exception of suicide bombers) act in pairs or small groups (it was a cold February night when Rev. Michael Bray and a friend, aShow MoreRelatedRacial Bias From The Console1273 Words   |  6 PagesEast, where the player must combat against terrorism. These video games can heavily reinforce one’s perception of outgroup members as well as indirectly influence one’s behavior during social interaction (McConnell and Leibold). Although explicit racism brings negative stigmatization, most people possess unconscious bias favoring in-group members. 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