Terrorism in Pakistan: a behavioral sciences perspective.
This article reviews the behavioral science perspectives of terrorism in Pakistan. It can be argued that Pakistan has gained worldwide attention for "terrorism" and its role in the "war against terrorism". The region is well placed geopolitically for economic successes but has been plagued by terrorism in various shapes and forms. A behavioral sciences perspective of terrorism is an attempt to explain it in this part of the world as a complex interplay of historical, geopolitical, anthropological and psychosocial factors and forces. Drawing from theories by Western scholars to explain the behavioral and cognitive underpinnings of a terrorist mind, the authors highlight the peculiarities of similar operatives at individual and group levels. Thorny issues related to the ethical and human right dimensions of the topic are visited from the unique perspective of a society challenged by schisms and divergence of opinions at individual, family, and community levels. The authors have attempted to minimize the political descriptions, although this cannot be avoided entirely, because of the nature of terrorism.
Director General, Centre for Trauma Research and Psychosocial Interventions, National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.
Asad Tamizuddin
AT
Nizami
Mowadat Hussain
MH
Rana
Tariq Mahmood
TM
Hassan
Fareed Aslam
FA
Minhas
D001525:Behavioral Sciences; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*