Psychological Normality or Abnormality: A Case Study on Salafi-Jihadists in the Middle-East.

The present study investigated Salafi-Jihadists in terms of mental health. The participants included 12 Salafi-Jihadists living in border areas of Iran, Kurdistan, selected using a purposeful sampling method. This primarily phenomenological case study gathered data, using open-ended interviews, field observations and in-depth clinical interviews. Results indicated that the participants reported no long-standing or acute mental or personality disorder. While they demonstrated abnormalities in their thought process and cognition, they were not severe enough to constitute symptoms of a mental disorder. The results indicate that situational and group factors, in conjunction with identifiable cognitive distortions, may play a more decisive role in fundamentalist radicalization than personality characteristics and mental disorders. Due to discrimination, feelings of oppression, cognitive distortions, and wrong attitudes toward other religious schools, some Muslims have decided to join Salafi-Jihad groups in order to feel a sense of belonging and identity.

Recruitment Process in Salafi-Jihadist Groups in the Middle East (A Qualitative Study).

Studies on the psychology of terrorism and fundamentalism place great importance on the role of groups, with a central concept of "us" versus "them." The present study examines how and why Salafi-jihadist groups in the Middle East have attracted typical citizens. The participants in this qualitative study were unremarkable Kurdish people living near the western borders of Iran with an allegiance toward Salafi-jihadist groups. We selected 12 people for the purposes of this study. Findings indicate that "group adaptation" and "rejection of the other" are the two overarching themes pointed out by the participants. Group adaptation included four sub-themes: (a) Idealization of, plus identification and assimilation with the leader, (b) developing strong group bonds, (c) direct and nonhierarchical agency of the individual in the group, and (d) group hypnotic suggestion. The "rejection of the other" included two sub-themes: (a) in-group rejection (reducing legitimate Islam to Salafism) and (b) out-group rejection (rejection of non-Muslims). The results of the study highlight the importance of a sense of belonging to the group in the process of recruitment and assimilation of individuals into jihadist groups. Findings also indicate that the concepts of adaptation and rejection play a pivotal role in the formation of fundamentalist Salafi-jihadist groups and resultant violence. We discuss the implications of group analysis for possible ways to counterterrorism.