This paper is written to prove that insight may be gathered more by Post, then Crenshaw. Post believes individual behaviors from certain psychological factors are more important than outside factors. That self-worth, family connections, locale, and other personal factors, are more important than the organization and other reasons that Crenshaw lists for behavior in a Terrorist Group.

 Post shows that certain individual case histories point to a break in the family unit. That sons whose fathers were not attentive, absent, or did not help their son’s to form their own personal self, look to the group of terrorists as a new extended family. Post States:

            “…it argues that political terrorists are driven to commit acts of violence as a consequence of psychological forces, and that their special psycho-logic is constructed to rationalize acts  that they are psychologically compelled to commit”

 I too, believe that certain family histories and actions can lead to a certain psychological sub-group which has a larger chance of becoming a Terrorist. Post continues with:

 “Individuals with a damaged self-concept have never fully integrated the bad and good parts of the self. These aspects are split into the ‘me’, and ‘not me’ …They need an outside enemy to blame”

 
The first key factor Post points out is the development of the “Us versus them” mentality. That the person is looking for a way to prove to himself, and to prove himself, to be a member of the group, by stating all the problems are created by an outside force. This leads them to claim that it must be morally right to fight the outside force, as this force is what created all the problems, and thus, they are immoral. That as a member of a terrorist group; they must fight the immorality of others.

 The Second Key Factor is group isolation and persecution of the group. This involves a feeling of persecution by the outside force, (which is usually true), and that only their group understands the reality of the issue at hand. This factor is sought and cultivated by terrorist leaders, because it helps to motivate the members and give new reasons and justifications against the outside forces. Post points out that the need to belong to group of individuals who recognize the worth of a person, can lead to leaders who will use this same idea to shape what the group feels.

            “For Many belonging to a terrorist group, it may be the first time that they truly belonged, the first time they felt truly significant, the first time they felt what they did counted”

  The Third Factor agrees with Crenshaw. That the greatest fear of a terrorist organization, is being so successful, that it will no longer be needed. That due to this factor, terrorists will ensure that original demands cannot be met, or that new demands must be created. Post points out that a terrorist leader who stops reforming or attacking will be replaced by a more motivated leader.

            “Doubts considering the legitimacy of the goals and actions of the group, are intolerable to such a group…the way to get rid of doubt, is to get rid of the doubters”

Summing up:

 Crenshaw states that terrorism is caused due to external factors, such as a groups funds, location, and other group physical needs. Post states that a certain type of person seeks terrorism to fulfill his own personal needs. That these needs usually are family or self-orientated; that the group mentality and need for the terrorist individually to belong to a group to reinforce the individuals self-worth, group standing, and personal narcissism. That isolation and persecution of the group by a designated outside immoral force is responsible for all of the groups and individuals problems. That the group works to use this need of self, and of being recognized, will reinforce individual conformity to the group. That since self cannot provide the needed ego to justify good and bad, it seeks out a group to provide this need, replacing group values above the self.