INFORMATION

Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.

PSICOTHEMA
  • Director: Laura E. Gómez Sánchez
  • Frequency:
         February | May | August | November
  • ISSN: 0214-9915
  • Digital Edition:: 1886-144X
CONTACT US
  • Address: Ildelfonso Sánchez del Río, 4, 1º B
    33001 Oviedo (Spain)
  • Phone: 985 285 778
  • Fax: 985 281 374
  • Email:psicothema@cop.es

Psicothema, 2007. Vol. Vol. 19 (nº 3). 366-374




Siete principios psicosociales para explicar el terrorismo

Luis de la Corte, Arie Kruglanski*, Jesús de Miguel, José Manuel Sabucedo** y Darío Díaz

Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, * Universidad de Maryland, College Park y ** Universidad Santiago de Compostela

Este artículo describe las bases para una aproximación psicosocial al análisis de los fenómenos terroristas. Más concretamente, se exponen siete principios explicativos del terrorismo que sean congruentes con los supuestos metateóricos y el cuerpo de conocimientos propios de la Psicología social. Desde esta óptica el terrorismo se concibe como una estrategia de influencia sociopolítica. Los atributos psicológicos de los terroristas son analizados por su relación con diversos procesos de influencia social. También se destaca la importancia de los factores ideológicos. Por último, se presta una atención muy especial a las semejanzas entre las organizaciones terroristas y los movimientos sociales ordinarios y a la estructura y dinámicas grupales propias de aquellas organizaciones.

Seven psychosocial principles to explain terrorism. Research approaches leading to the understanding of the terrorist phenomenon are suggested. Seven principles explaining terrorism are analysed from a psychosocial approach: They could complete the explanations of terrorism focused in socio-structural and psychological variables, the latter being insufficient and often erroneous. Thus, terrorism is presented as a strategy of political influence, and the psychological attributes of terrorists are explained as the result of several influential social processes. We considered that terrorist attacks and campaigns correspond to strategic reasons, but we also assume that the rationality of the terrorists perspective is limited. As far as the organisational parameters are concerned, we propose an analogy with ordinary social movements, especially relating to their ideological frameworks of legitimisation and resource mobilization processes.

PDF

Impact Factor JCR SSCI Clarivate 2023 = 3.2 (Q1) / CiteScore SCOPUS 2023 = 6.5 (Q1)