Les terroristes suicidaires : qui sont-ils ?

Abstract

BackgroundSuicide terrorism is a deadly practice which appears to be rising across the globe. Interest in understanding its motivations and its psychological underpinnings has increased in recent years. In fact, the recent increase in suicide terrorism posed new challenges to mental health professionals who need to better understand this terrifying phenomenon, to implement intervention strategies that are effective. Our purpose was to explain why particular individuals become willing to die as suicide bombers. Materials and methodsThis paper reviews the worldwide literature on motivations and psychology of suicide terrorism. ResultsIt is difficult to identify an understanding of what motivates a suicide bomber. Researchers have argued that most suicide bombers are psychologically normal and are deeply integrated into social networks. Participation in suicide bombing seems to be motivated by a wide range of factors. Contrary to the common assumption that suicide terrorism is committed by religious fanatics, suicide bombers are politically-motivated individuals. Several authors claim that suicide terrorism has a range of characteristics which are shown to be very different from ordinary suicidal behavior. Suicidal symptoms and suicidal intent are completely absent in suicide terrorists. A number of authors claim that the causes of suicide bombings lie not in individual psychopathology but in broader social conditions. ConclusionsPsychiatry has a valuable role in understanding the group and individual processes which contribute to terrorist attacks. Methods developed by suicidologists, such as the psychological autopsy technique, could be an important tool in the study of suicide terrorists, and may ultimately contribute to the prevention of future attacks.