Distinguishing lone from group actor terrorists: A comparison of attitudes, ideologies, motivations, and risks

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-13-2022

Journal

Journal of forensic sciences

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.15154

Keywords

extremism; group actors; lone actors; mental disorder; risk factors; terrorism

Abstract

The increasing recognition of the risks posed by lone-actor terrorists provides the impetus for understanding the psychosocial and ideological characteristics that distinguish lone from group actors. This study examines differences between lone and group actor terrorists in two domains: (i) attitudes toward terrorism, ideology, and motivation for terrorist acts; and (ii) empirically derived risk factors for terrorism. Using a cross-sectional research design and primary source data from 160 men convicted of terrorism in Iraq, this study applied bivariate and logistic regression analyses to assess group differences. It tested the hypothesis that there are no statistically significant differences between the groups. Bivariate analyses revealed that lone actors were less likely than group actors, to be unemployed, to cite personal or group benefit as the main motives for terrorist activity, and to believe that acts of terrorism achieved their goals. Regression analysis indicated that having an authoritarian father was the only factor that significantly predicted group membership, with group actors three times more likely to report this trait. Lone actors and group actors are almost indistinguishable except for certain differences in attitudes, motives, employment, and having an authoritarian father.

Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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