Abstract
Extreme overvalued beliefs (EOB) are rigidly held, non-deusional beliefs that are the motive behind most acts of terrorism and mass shootings. EOBs are differentiated from delusions and obsessions. The concept of an overvalued idea was first described by Wernicke and later applied to terrorism by McHugh. Our group of forensic psychiatrists (Rahman, Resnick, Harry) refined the definition as an aid in the differential diagnosis seen in acts of violence. The form and content of EOBs is discussed as well as group effects, conformity, and obedience to authority. Religious cults such as The People’s Temple, Heaven’s Gate, Aum Shinrikyo, and Islamic State (ISIS) and conspiracy beliefs such as assassinations, moon-hoax, and vaccine-induced autism beliefs are discussed using this construct. Finally, some concluding thoughts on countering violent extremism, including its online presence is discussed utilizing information learned from online eating disorders and consumer experience.
Highlights
Extreme overvalued beliefs are a predominant motive behind global and homegrown violent and terrorist attacks
The discussion will begin by describing how the term overvalued idea has evolved in the psychiatric literature in describing conditions such as eating disorders and its application to violent behavior seen in mass suicides, cults, terrorism, and online radicalization
We introduced the term extreme overvalued belief to describe the rigidly held non-delusional beliefs that
Summary
Extreme overvalued beliefs are a predominant motive behind global and homegrown violent and terrorist attacks. This operational definition differentiates idiosyncratic, psychotic thinking from shared subcultural beliefs or ideologies [1,2]. The term extreme overvalued belief, derived from earlier definitions, is critical to understanding the psychopathology seen in acts of terrorism, cults, mass suicides, mass shootings, and online radicalization. The discussion will begin by describing how the term overvalued idea has evolved in the psychiatric literature in describing conditions such as eating disorders and its application to violent behavior seen in mass suicides, cults, terrorism, and online radicalization. The discussion will turn to how the social transmission of beliefs occur to gain a better understanding of how extreme overvalued beliefs form and has important implications for the prevention of terrorism and mass deaths stemming from extreme overvalued beliefs
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