Suicide Bombing: A Psychodynamic View

Abstract

The horror and macabre images of suicide bombings appear regularly on television news programs around the world. A focused literature review of psychiatric interview and demographic data about suicide bombers is presented. Of particular clinical interest are the findings from the study of potential suicide bombers who were apprehended before they could act on their suicide bombing plans. The authors offer psychodynamic and social self–psychological theories explaining the phenomenon of suicide bombing behavior.