Abstract

Is terrorism just another form of criminal activity, as many nations’ justice systems assume? We offer an initial answer using face-to-face interviews and structured surveys in thirty-five Spanish prisons. Recent theories of extreme sacrifice inform this direct observational and comparative study. Islamist terrorists display levels of self-sacrifice for their primary reference group similar to that of Latino gangs, but greater willingness to sacrifice for primary values than other inmates (non-radical Muslims, Latino gangs, and delinquent bands). This disposition is motivated by stronger perceived injustice, discrimination, and a visceral commitment to such values (risk/radicalization factors). Nevertheless, state authorities, prison staff, and families are (protective/de-radicalization) factors apt to reduce willingness to sacrifice and keep foreign fighters, now being released in large numbers, from returning to terrorism.

Details

Title
Willingness to sacrifice among convicted Islamist terrorists versus violent gang members and other criminals
Author
Gómez, Angel 1 ; Atran, Scott 2 ; Chinchilla Juana 3 ; Vázquez, Alexandra 4 ; López-Rodríguez, Lucia 5 ; Paredes Borja 6 ; Martínez Mercedes 3 ; Blanco, Laura 3 ; Alba, Beatriz 3 ; Bautista Hend 3 ; Fernández Saulo 3 ; Pozuelo-Rubio, Florencia 7 ; González-Álvarez, José Luis 8 ; Chiclana, Sandra 7 ; Valladares-Narganes Héctor 7 ; Alonso María 7 ; Ruíz-Alvarado, Alfredo 7 ; López-Novo, José Luis 7 ; Davis, Richard 9 

 Artis International, Scottsdale, USA; Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Facultad de Psicología, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.10702.34) (ISNI:0000 0001 2308 8920) 
 Artis International, Scottsdale, USA (GRID:grid.10702.34); University of Oxford, Changing Character of War Centre, Oxford, UK (GRID:grid.4991.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8948); University of Michigan, Gerald Ford School of Public Policy, Michigan, USA (GRID:grid.214458.e) (ISNI:0000000086837370) 
 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Facultad de Psicología, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.10702.34) (ISNI:0000 0001 2308 8920) 
 Artis International, Scottsdale, USA (GRID:grid.10702.34); Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Facultad de Psicología, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.10702.34) (ISNI:0000 0001 2308 8920) 
 Artis International, Scottsdale, USA (GRID:grid.10702.34); Universidad de Almería, Departamento de Psicología, Almería, Spain (GRID:grid.28020.38) (ISNI:0000000101969356) 
 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Facultad de Psicología, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.10702.34) (ISNI:0000 0001 2308 8920); Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Psicología, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.5515.4) (ISNI:0000000119578126) 
 Gobierno de España, Instituciones Penitenciarias, Ministerio del Interior, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.454788.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1768 2343) 
 Gobierno de España, Secretaría de Estado de Seguridad, Ministerio del Interior, Madrid, Spain (GRID:grid.454788.2) (ISNI:0000 0004 1768 2343) 
 Artis International, Scottsdale, USA (GRID:grid.454788.2); University of Oxford, Changing Character of War Centre, Oxford, UK (GRID:grid.4991.5) (ISNI:0000 0004 1936 8948); Arizona State University, School of Politics and Global Studies, Tempe, USA (GRID:grid.215654.1) (ISNI:0000 0001 2151 2636) 
Publication year
2022
Publication date
2022
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2629162853
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2022. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.