PLSC 449Psychology of Terrorism

3 credits · Political Science · Penn State

This course examines the fundamental attributes of terrorist psychology, including the motivations, strategies and behaviors of terrorists; the efforts to counter them; and the psychological impact of terrorism on the public. The course operates from a multidisciplinary perspective to consider a variety of topics, including: terrorist ideologies; how people come to join terrorist groups; the making and characteristics of a terrorist; recruitment methods; the leadership of terrorist groups; terrorism tactics, including the use of media and technology; the psychological consequences of terrorism on individuals, communities and global societies; psychological counterterrorism; blowback from counterterrorism; prevention tactics; and disengagement from terrorism. Prior course work in Psychology is not required. This course does not count toward the requirements of the Psychology major or minor.