Yakeley, Jessica and Meloy, J Reid (2014) The violent true believer as a “Lone Wolf” – Psychoanalytic perspectives on terrorism. Behavioral Sciences & the Law . ISSN 1099-0798

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Abstract

The existing research on lone wolf terrorists and case experience are reviewed and interpreted through the lens of psychoanalytic theory. A number of characteristics of the lone wolf are enumerated: a personal grievance and moral outrage; the framing of an ideology; failure to affiliate with an extremist group; dependence on a virtual community found on the Internet; the thwarting of occupational goals; radicalization fueled by changes in thinking and emotion – including cognitive rigidity, clandestine excitement, contempt, and disgust – regardless of the particular ideology; the failure of sexual pair bonding and the sexualization of violence; the nexus of psychopathology and ideology; greater creativity and innovation than terrorist groups; and predatory violence sanctioned by moral (superego) authority. A concluding psychoanalytic formulation is offered.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Article first published online: 2 Apr 2014
Subjects:	Psychological Therapies, Psychiatry, Counselling > Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Department/People:	Adult and Forensic Services
URI:	https://repository.tavistockandportman.ac.uk/id/eprint/831

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