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Cognitive simplicity and self-deception are crucial in martyrdom and suicide terrorism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 August 2014
Abstract
Suicide attacks and terrorism are characterized by cognitive simplicity, which is related to self-deception. In justifying violence in pursuit of ideologically and/or politically driven commitment, people with high religious commitment may be particularly prone to mechanisms of self-deception. Related megalomania and glorious self-perception are typical of self-deception, and are thus crucial in the emergence and expression of (suicide) terrorism.
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- Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014
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Cognitive simplicity and self-deception are crucial in martyrdom and suicide terrorism
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