Parallels Between Crime and Terrorism

A Social Psychological Perspective

Bibliographic Data

ID12407262
AuthorsSam Mullins (University of Wollongong, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume32
Issue9
Pages811-830
Publication date2009-08-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in Conflict and Terrorism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1057-610X • E-ISSN: 1521-0731
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10576100903109776
OpenAlexW1971107534
LanguageEN
Citations received13

Although the psychology of terrorism is far from a neglected subject, there is still much to learn. “Ordinary” criminals remain enigmatic but have proved a far more accessible population for research purposes. This article bridges the gap between the study of crime and contemporary terrorism by examining the parallels between the two. Significant similarities are shown to exist between terrorists and organized as well as low-level criminals, including activities performed and systems of social influence and organization. Processes of social identification are universally important to varying degrees; however, specific differences in identity may represent key distinguishing features between groups. Although further comparisons utilizing more restrictive samples are necessary, attention is drawn to the sometimes underutilized potential that criminological research holds to act as a point of reference for the investigation of terrorism

Criminology · Identification (biology · Identity (music · Parallels · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Population · Sociology · Subject (documents · Terrorism · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Engineering · Law · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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