In medical science Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSbP) is the term which is used to define a situation regarding a subject where a caregiver fabricates, exaggerates or induces mental or physical health problems or intentionally produce physical or psychological symptoms or signs. But, why? The primary motive might be for gaining attention or sympathy from others or they appear to be deeply concerned and protective.
In most cases the caregivers are found as the parents of the subject who appears to be a child. The caregiver falsifies background and may harm the child with drugs or other external agents or add blood or bacterial contaminants with the specimens to simulate disease.
In most developed nations this syndrome is not a legally supported term as it does not relate to an organized or recognized reliable body of knowledge or experience. But right now the deductions of the near past incidents around the world somehow indicates that it worth a try for the sociologists, social psychologists and anthropologists to give a thought about it.
The recent deadly extremist attacks across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, western Europe and other parts of the world along with the brutal progression of the ISIS is nurturing the history of terrorism in a unique manner.
These indicate that it is now the time to rethink about terrorists and terrorism. We need to widen our focus to make ourselves deliberate enough to dive deeper into the facts for fighting back against it.
So far we conclude our thoughts about terrorists and terrorism with the background and case study of individual terrorists. Also in most cases we fail to differ among terrorism, militancy, insurgency and individual criminal activities.
But, it was never about the person or his/her past. It is the beliefs which have been injected through a certain procedure. It has always been the psychologically accepted caregivers who dominate their mind.
On the other hand, individual case studies are also helpful, as they show why the terrorist's mind supported the channelling of those certain procedures and considered the caregivers as their leaders. Terrorists minor their individualism for collectivism, as a result whatever it is about the group, organization or network becomes the prime importance.
It has been observed and already an established theory supported by scholars that, terrorists are not severely emotionally disturbed, crazed or depressed fanatics. Most terrorists are not abnormal in the sense of suffering from psychological disorders. It is not a matter of individual psychopathology anymore; it is group, organizational and social psychology, with a particular prominence on "collective identity", that offers the most dominant view through which we should understand terrorist psychology and behaviour.
This "collectivism" helps the leaders of these terrorist groups who present 'the cause' a major role in creating the dominant terrorist psychology. The leader provides a 'sense-making' unifying message that conveys religious, political or ideological justification to their distinct followers.
This presentation of the leaders, offers windows into the psychology and motivations of the followers who are attracted to their hate-mongering messages. The scenario is also somewhat same in case of radical militancy. So, "how someone becomes a terrorist?" and "how or why terrorism is spreading around?" these two questions don't conclude to a same point of explanation.
Now, is religious violence the same as terrorism in general or they are different? We are actually experiencing the phase of shift from said violence to a generalized type of religious violence; which means that, they are performing for the Almighty and not for the exposure in international media.
And that is the newest version of danger. The process has started from a few decades back when history has witnessed the political acceptance in Poland from the mid of twentieth century to the 80s and Orthodox Christian symbols by the Bolsheviks in Russia. To be very specific, if the situation continues as it is and if religious terrorism gets to be the dominant mode of violent political change, then there will be no way left to get away from the phenomenon, except 'divine intervention'.
To counter the given situations we need to take some smart and holistic moves. Politicians, economists, sociologists, psychologist sand academicians; they all need to work very closely to each other. One of our most focused short-term goals should be removing the luxuriant environment for caregivers of the terrorist organizations.
Kids should be given the top priority in the process. All educational institutions need to have experienced and well equipped psychologists for counselling and psychological support of the young students. Kids, youths and parents need to have proper idea about their duties and rights; especially parents need to have parenting guidelines and training to overcome the generation gap and build better intimacy; here the government needs to take the biggest step ahead.
Curriculums, actions and incidents within all types of educational institutions should be closely monitored by the concerned national authority; this doesn't mean authority should intervene in the education process; they should just raise hands in case of any discrepancy.
Lastly, we need not to repeat the past too loudly or too often, for traumatic events and memories always work as the advantage of the caregivers of the terrorist organizations; rather our concentration should be increased precaution and discipline.
Hossain Mohammed Omar Khayum is a Research Associate, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka
