Cognitive Aggression and Terrorism

Aggression may be defined as a behavior intended to harm someone who does not wish to be harmed (Allen, J. J., & Anderson, C. A., 2017). The basic concept behind aggression is the intention wherein an act of harm may not be termed as aggression when unintentional. It may be derived that similar harmful behavior may or may not be an act of aggression considering the intent (Allen, J. J., & Anderson, C. A., 2017). This definition of aggression rules out certain behavior that might normally be thought of as being aggressive. For example, a driver who accidentally hits, or even kills a cyclist, is not, by definition, aggressive. This is because there was no intention to cause harm. In a similar manner when a surgeon gives a powerful pain killer injection to a patient, he causes him pain, however, the intention is to further prevent the pain.

It can be seen that aggression is very difficult to define in simpler terms. By definition, it is required that the intent or goal of the perpetrator needs to be understood in order to interpret whether or not an act executed by him was aggressive. In this purview an act of causing harm may be termed as aggression by one whilst the same may be considered otherwise by others. The development of nuclear weapons by Iran is considered aggressive by the US government whereas the Iranians view it as a matter of national pride. The ambiguity of definition and scope for individual interpretation calls in for more specific instances wherein the concept of aggression upholds its meaning.

Sometimes violence and aggression are used interchangeably whereas violence is only a subset of aggression and it can be upheld that all acts of violence are aggressive but only the once intended to cause harm or intense physical damage are violent (Allen, J. J., & Anderson, C. A., 2017). Fundamentally aggression may be of two types- emotional or impulsive aggression and instrumental or cognitive aggression (Wrangham, R. W., 2018). The former refers to the type of aggression which occurs as a result of impulsive emotions resulting from little forethought. Cognitive aggression, on the other hand, is intentional as well as planned.

On 14th February 2019, India witnessed one of the deadliest terror attacks in the Pulwama region of Jammu & Kashmir. This attack caused the martyrdom of over 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel. A suicide bomber of Jaish-e-Mohammad rammed a civil vehicle containing over 100kg. of explosives into the convoy components of the paramilitary personnel. In addition to having killed 40 soldiers, the attack left many critically wounded. The responsibility for this attack was claimed by Pakistan based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad. The attack was a sheer act of aggression. The same may be classified into instrumental or cognitive aggression undertaken by the JeM terrorists. Unlike the examples in which the classification of acts of aggression is based on interpretation, the said attack was condemned by countries all over the world. This makes it an act of pure cognitive aggression which was intentional as well as planned.

It is difficult to understand the motives and goals of terrorists, except for spreading terrorism (Lankford, A., 2016). They might be naturally evil with a primary aim to hurt others or they might have a motivation to gain something or themselves, their countries, or their religion. Researches have attempted to determine whether particular personality characteristics describe the terrorists (Lankford, A., 2016). Terrorists might be individuals with a deep psychological disturbance or deeply motivated extremists brainwashed and programmed to attempt such cowardly and heinous attacks. Scholars believe that the terrorists wish to gain something through terrorism which they cannot gain otherwise. Even suicide terrorists as in the case of the said attack believe that they have been sent on a mission which would help them with some personal gains- for instance, a promise to live forever in paradise, or an opportunity to meet the Gods or rewards for the member of their families (Miller, J., 2016). Hence such cases of suicidal terrorist attacks, are absolute acts of cognitive aggression which cannot be turned otherwise.

References

Allen, J. J., & Anderson, C. A. (2017). Aggression and violence: Definitions and distinctions. The wiley handbook of violence and aggression, 1-14.

Lankford, A. (2016). Detecting mental health problems and suicidal motives among terrorists and mass shooters. Criminal behaviour and mental health, 26(5), 315-321.

Miller, J. (2016). For the sake of peace, please remember that not all terrorists are Muslim. Mennonite Life, 70(2016).

Wrangham, R. W. (2018). Two types of aggression in human evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(2), 245-253.