Psychologically Healthy Terrorists

Investigations into the recent terrorist attacks in Britain have revealed that a number of suspects are medical professionals.

Now that's a shocker.

Even a dyed-in-the-wool cynic like myself raised a quizzical eyebrow.

The possibility that highly educated professionals can be involved in terrorist activities is not that surprising for me, because these people ought to be really smart if they are not noticed or caught.

In addition, there have been precedents.

In Singapore, for example, a qualified lawyer who studied at a top junior college and graduated from a local university was arrested when he was about to travel to Afghanistan and join the Taleban. He was "self-radicalized" by extremist websites on the Internet.

But, doctors... not quite the same...

They are healers. We trust our lives with them.

Don't they have to take the Hippocratic Oath of doing no harm?












How can anyone hold such conflicting beliefs and still remain sane?

Perhaps these are especially evil doctors who went to Evil medical school?











Actually, no.

I don't know what new details will emerge from the investigations, but I'll bet that the doctors involved in the attacks are completely normal and psychologically healthy people.

You are thinking: "Psychologically HEALTHY? Are you joking?"

Heh, I joke often.

But not this time.

Years ago when I was studying neuroscience as an undergrad, I took an introductory course about human personalities and social psychology.

I recall that my professor (who is an expert on the interpersonal circumplex) taught us that people who can quickly adapt to the rules of different situations - are the most psychologically healthy individuals.

In contrast, people who use a fixed, consistent set of rules to deal with all aspects of everyday life often have psychological, even neurological problems.

For example, people with mild social phobia may function fine in the presence of friends and family, but are unable to adjust to the new rules of interacting with unfamiliar faces.

At the extreme end, some people with autism are unable to learn any social rules at all.

The lecture ended and everyone went home.

But I felt disturbed by its implications.

I was thinking to myself:

"Does that mean that a two-faced, super-slick, slippery-snake hypocrite is more psychologically healthy than a person of consistent principles and actions?"

At that time I was quite opposed to my professor's opinion, but years later I realize that he is mainly correct.

Only people who are psychologically very healthy can hold two absolutely opposing beliefs and feel no conflict at all. They adapt quickly to the rules and demands of a wide variety of situations, because they feel no need to think consistently or standardize their behaviour.

They are happy, confident and well-adjusted wherever they go.

The best candidates to become terrorists.

When they are playing their role as healers, they are compassionate and dutiful healers. When they are playing their role as killers, they are ruthless and decisive killers.

Lesser people would have cracked under the intense pressure of inner conflict, self-doubt and anxiety. The security forces would have noticed these jittery nervous wrecks from miles away and thwarted their plans.

Everyone loves people of great confidence and charisma, which is why they can do so much good - or do so much damage.

Or even both.

At the same time.


Would you like to know more?

- Terror suspects not brainwashed
- Why do extremists exist?