The Psychological Concept of Trauma as It Relates to Terrorism - Essay Example

Terrorism Grade (November 2, Terrorism Explain the psychological concept of chosen trauma as it relates to terrorism The psychological concept of chosen trauma refers to the situation where a certain group of the society feels humiliated, victimized and oppressed, and thus tends to form their identity upon such feelings of being discriminated against by the rest of the society (Volkan, 2004). The chosen trauma makes the section of the society that feels oppressed or discriminate base their need to avenge themselves for the poor treatment they have received before, without any due consideration on the wrong that they will be doing themselves (Volkan, 2004). Thus, the psychological concept of chosen trauma is the basis of a section of the society taking retaliatory action against the rest of the society or the part of the society that the group feels has historically oppressed them, without feeling guilty or even considering the adverse effect of their retaliatory actions (Volkan, 2004). This concept is related to terrorism in the sense that; terrorism consists of a group of people in the society who are seeking to attack the rest of the society or at least target the section of the society as a way of avenging for a perceived historical injustice or oppression against them (Volkan, 2004). In this respect, the terrorists engage in attacking and causing harm to the rest of the society without considering that they themselves could be doing something wrong, since chosen trauma makes them feel justified to react to a perceived historical injustice that they feel is unresolved (Volkan, 2004). 2. What does the sociological aspect of terrorists’ fear of victory mean? The sociological aspect of terrorists’ fear of victory refers to the characteristic of terrorism that is different from the rest of violence that are perpetrated in the society. The aspect of terrorists’ fear of victory means that the aim of terrorism is not to perpetrate either terror or violence on their own sake, but with a more unpronounced objective of either instilling fear on the target victims, or to achieve victory through coercing the target victim to fulfill a premeditated intention of the terrorists (Fine, 2008). Terrorism is a form of violence that does not in itself seek to attain personal gains as does with most victims, but to achieve the objectives of a certain section of the society that wants either to make a political statement or instill fear of being a potentially harmful section of the society that is capable of forcing the society to take certain decisions that the society may not be voluntarily open to (Gregg, 2014). Therefore, when terrorists plan an act of terror towards any section of the society, the intention is not merely perpetrating terror and violence on the targeted section of the society, but to ensure that while the targeted section of the society suffers, the wider society is able to recognize the existence, power and threat of the terrorist group. This way, the society is required to react in a certain way that will be favorable for the realization of the further objectives of the terrorists. In this respect, terrorism is a form of violence perpetrated with the intention of either instilling fear or achieving victory by making a certain political statement (Gregg, 2014). 3. Explain the differences between secular and religious terrorism Terrorism takes different forms, and impacts the society indifferent aspects, such that religious terrorism, which is the modern form of terrorism that is facing the world, is more destructive than secular terrorism (Fine, 2008). Thus, secular terrorism is defined as the perpetration of violence and terror by a section of the society through discriminately identifying, attacking and killing or injuring the targeted section of the society, mostly on a small scale (Gregg, 2014). On the other hand, religious terrorism refers to the attack and killing or injuring the targeted section of the society indiscriminately, such that the main objective is the elimination of a broadly defined section of the society, as a way of fulfilling a divine or sacramental duty (Gregg, 2014). Therefore, religious terrorism is perpetrated in direct response to some form of religious demand, and is difficult to discriminate the targeted section of the society, eventually ending up attacking and killing a broadly characterized society, where even some members of the religious group might fall victim (Fine, 2008). The other major difference between secular terrorism and religious terrorism is noticeable in the fact that; secular terrorism takes either the form of political, social or moral dimension, thus it is practical to devise a strategy that can address this form of terrorism (Gregg, 2014). On the other hand, religious terrorism takes a transcendental dimension, which then means that moral, political or social strategy cannot effectively address the challenge of religious terrorism (Fine, 2008). This simply means that it is easy to control secular terrorism compared to religious terrorism, since in religious terrorism, it is more difficult to identify the actual terrorist group or terror perpetrators. 4. Explain why religious fundamentalism is irrelevant to a discussion of religious terrorism Religious fundamentalism is irrelevant to a discussion of religious terrorism, owing to the fact that religious terrorism takes the form of selective interpretation of the religious doctrines, such that no fundamental values can really be attached to religious terrorism (Gregg, 2014). Religious fundamentalism refers to the concept of attaching a religious belief on certain values that the religious group considered to be significant for defining their identity. However, religious terrorism lacks in specific fundamental principles or values, owing to the fact that it does not stem from a comprehensive evaluation of the religious doctrines to reach at a certain set of religious beliefs that define the identity of the group, but rather on chosen trauma that is then tended to be associated with certain aspects of the religious doctrine provisions, though referred to on a selective basis (Fine, 2008). Owing to the fact that any religion has fundamental values and principles that differentiate it from the rest of the religions, it follows that each religion is a potential catalyst for terrorism, owing to the fact that terrorism is built on a perceived, existing difference in one section of the society from the rest of the society. Therefore, religion itself is the problem, not the type of religion, since any religion is pathogenic on its followers, since any type of religion focuses on differentiating a section of the society from the rest, which creates the potential for one section of the society turning against the other (Gregg, 2014). In this respect, religious fundamentalism, no matter how positive, is irrelevant to religious terrorism. References Fine, J. (2008). Contrasting Secular and Religious Terrorism. Middle East Quarterly, 59-69. Available at: http://www.meforum.org/1826/contrasting-secular-and-religious-terrorism Gregg, H. S. (2014). Defining and Distinguishing Secular and Religious Terrorism. Perspectives on Terrorism 8, 2. Available at: http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/336/html Volkan, V. D. (2004). Chosen Trauma: the Political Ideology of Entitlement and Violence. Germany: Berlin Meeting. Available at: http://www.vamikvolkan.com/Chosen-Trauma,-the-Political-Ideology-of-Entitlement-and-Violence.php Read More