In contrast to the widely held assumption that terrorists are crazed fanatics, political psychologist Post demonstrates that they are psychologically "normal" and that "hatred has been bred in the bone." He reveals the powerful motivations that drive these ordinary people to such extraordinary evil by exploring the different types of terrorists, from national-separatists like the Irish Republican Army to social revolutionary terrorists like Shining Path and the Weather Underground, as well as religious extremists like al Qaeda and Aum Shinrikyo. These psychological components are often waved away in favor of focusing on political, social, and economic concerns terrorists profess, damaging our ability to truly understand these criminals. Here, Post uses his expertise to explain how the terrorist mind works and how this information can help us to combat terrorism more effectively.--From publisher description.

Introduction: Terrorists and terrorism -- pt 1: When hatred is bred in the bone : national-separatist terrorism ; Secular Palestinian terrorism ; The Irish and Basque ; The Kurds and Tamils -- pt 2: Rebellion against the generation of their parents : social-revolutionary terrorism ; European and North American cases ; Latin American cases -- pt 3: Killing in the name of God : religious extremist terrorism ; Hezbollah and Hamas ; al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden ; Killing in the name of other gods -- pt 4: The changing face of terrorism ; Global jihad and suicide terrorism ; Weapons of mass destruction and mass disruption ; Challenges and implications.