Understanding the psychology of ISIS militants
The recruits belonging to ISIS breeding grounds are usually captivated by their ideology but it is unclear why a young European would abandon their lifestyle, family and country to join the Islamic State.
“The appeal of ISIS rests on individuals’ quest for ‘personal significance’ which the militant group’s extremist propaganda cleverly exploits,” said a Clinical Psychologist Dr Sobia Ikram.
The terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been storming the news reports with attacks around the world, killing more than 1,200 people outside of Iraq and Syria, according to a New York Times analysis.
The determination and loyalty backing these barbaric crimes committed by the militants belonging to ISIS are beyond the comprehensive abilities of a normal human mind.
Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, from Tunisia, who ploughed a 19-tonne truck into a crowd in Nice killing 84 people, had received extensive psychological treatment. Similarly, Adel Kermiche, from Algerian background, who murdered 86-year-old priest by slitting his throat in Rouen, also had mental health problems
The recruits belonging to ISIS breeding grounds are usually captivated by their ideology but it is unclear why a young European would abandon their lifestyle, family and country to join the Islamic State.
“The major contributors are identity development and integration process combined with social injustice,” said Director General of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) Dr Maria Sultan.
“The second issue is acceptance of violence in the society,” Maria added.
“The fact that identity development is no longer supported by alternative ideology but only by religious right ideologies also contributes radicalisation in the western countries,” said Maria.
ISIS target psychologically and emotionally damaged people and manipulates them into believing that their problems are caused by the injustice of ‘anti-Islam’ forces or ‘infidels’.
ISIS is, therefore, an entity which is backed by a strong belief system.
The ideology of ISIS, however, can be explained through cognitive and moral psychology that clarifies why humans commit the most extreme sacrifices of their lives and the lives of their families.
Psychological factors
“The appeal of ISIS rests on individuals’ quest for ‘personal significance’ which the militant group’s extremist propaganda cleverly exploits,” said a Clinical Psychologist, Dr Sobia Ikram.
The quest for significance is the desire to matter, to gain self-respect. A person’s sense of significance may be lost for many reasons, such as a personal failure or a stigma that comes from transgressing the norms of society.
The people, who have a weaker faith and little confidence in themselves, are usually suffering from personality disorders, including psychological problems like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
In Pakistan and other developing countries, the factors behind joining terrorist organisations can be poor economic conditions, social pressure- psychological factors like identity crisis in adolescents, bipolar mood disorder, antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, said another psychologist Dr Saba Shabbir.
In some cases, people deprived of facilities that cater to basic needs from war affected areas join such militant groups as a medium to take revenge against privileged people.
In Europe and developed countries, it comes as a reaction against their religiously prohibited activities which is termed in psychology as ‘reaction formation’.
Young Muslims in European countries feel isolated and face difficulties while integrating into a society that has contrasting religious and cultural values. The message behind ISIS’ ideology attracts Europe’s disenfranchised youth by providing a sense of belonging.
Using religion as a tool
The state has evidently failed in the Middle-East to provide a substitute for religious extremism.
Psychologists have termed ‘religion’ as a tool used by ISIS to manipulate the masses who were dissatisfied with the efforts of the government to provide them economic stability and a better standard of living.
Religion is the most important factor because ISIS misinterprets religion to make the people believe their actions are morally correct and will lead them to salvation. Hence, this idea removes any speck of guilt or doubt, said psychologist Dr Kiran.
Religion is the most important factor because ISIS misinterprets religion to make the people believe their actions are morally correct and will lead them to salvation. Hence, this idea removes any speck of guilt or doubt, said psychologist Dr Kiran.
People, specifically from Indo-Pak region, have strong cultural and religious roots but they do not have complete knowledge of their religion.
Terrorist organisations take benefit of this lack of knowledge and misinterpret religion to influence people.
People join these groups as they are inclined towards religion and ISIS incites them in the name of religion, the psychologists explained.
A study conducted by Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, explained the conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience.
The study examined the justifications for brutal crimes committed by the Nazi soldiers during the World War II.
The criminals justified their crimes by claiming they were simply following orders.
People tend to follow orders given by an authority figure even if it includes killing an innocent human being.
In the case of ISIS, the militants follow the ideology of an Amir al-Mu’minin (Commander of the faithful), a role currently held by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Individuals obey orders from other people if they believe the leader to be morally and ethically correct.
‘The accidental guerrillas’
The author, David Kilcullen, in his book ‘The Accidental Guerrilla’ refers to a majority of people in war-ridden areas who had no intention of being a part of ISIS or any other terrorist organisation but were bound by the conditions.
Systematic organisations like ISIS provide a sense of community through their developed social service networks.
The militants are offered daily wages, educational institutions, and also recreational services.
The isolation strategy of these segments by the Western countries makes it difficult for them to benefit from such facilities elsewhere, thus, most recruits are compelled to become a part of ISIS despite not believing in their ideology.
The writer argues that the West should counter this process that leads individuals into becoming ‘accidental guerrillas’.
“I don’t think there are very many of these who “join ISIS unwillingly” and few people are “brainwashed” as sometimes said. Most recruits see their affiliation with ISIS as something that is highly desirable and make significant sacrifices in order to join the organisation,” said Jason Burke, a foreign affairs correspondent for The Guardian who has spent more than 20 years reporting from Europe, the Middle East and South Asia.
“I’m not sure they are not related to Islam in any way. All those who join militant organisations like ISIS certainly claim to be related to Islam, and a fair number are devout,” said Burke.
How ISIS influences the youth and educated
The ISIS has made its way through the minds of well-educated individuals across the world.
Many youths are disillusioned by the media’s display of terrorism and feel thrilled to join, kill, and use heavy weapons.
According to psychologists, such individuals lack values like patience – they believe in immediate gratification of their emotions, morality of right and wrong, kindness and compassion.
ISIS has used the Internet as an effective tool for indoctrinating young recruits from all over the world. They have introduced propaganda material including professionally produced videos, and magazines through social networking sites.
This appeals to a young mind as it develops a sense of belonging in a community that protects Muslims against the unfair global system.
“Unlike the attackers from Bangladesh, the recruits in Brussels and Paris were poorly educated, and from immigrant-origin communities which suffer higher than average levels of economic hardship and lack of opportunity. The empowerment that ISIS offer with its vision of “gangsta jihad” and the reassuring, for some inspiring, structure provided by radical ideologies fuel the attraction these young recruits feel towards violence,” said Burke who is also the author of ‘The New Threat from Islamic Militancy’.
Coming back to the ‘normal world’
When people join militant groups, witness deaths and slaughter of others or their loved ones, they develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which ultimately damages their brain and causes significant distress, said psychologist Dr Saba Shabbir.
Returning to a normal lifestyle becomes difficult for people who have experienced war.
Understanding the reason why people join a militant organisation such as ISIS is an important step to establish counter strategies that can disrupt the recruiting process.
(This article was co-authored by Aroma Shahid and Mahnoor Sheikh)
