Course Detail Information

CRJ 627 - Psychology and Terrorism/Fear

Course Description: One could argue that a “common sense” first appraisal of terrorists is that they are crazy and evil. Why else would people kill innocent people who mean them no harm and even kill themselves in the process? Relying on this common sense, President Bush branded the 9/11 hijackers as evil cowards. Others have argued that those who would commit suicide in their assaults on the free world are not rational and are not deterred by rational concepts. This course examines terrorists to find out who they are and what motivates them. In a related context, the Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “While nothing is easier than to denounce an evildoer, nothing is more difficult than to understand him.” Course Rotation: PLV:Fall 3.000 Credit hours 3.000 Lecture hours Levels: Graduate Schedule Types: Discussion, Lecture, Thesis/Research Project Criminal Justice Department Course Attributes: Foundation Course Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels:            Graduate Prerequisites: Graduate level CRJ 601 Minimum Grade of B