Titles - 7/7 Bombers, The - A Psychological Investigation | McNabb Connolly - Dedicated to Enriched Learning Through Multi Media

Home / Titles / 7/7 Bombers, The - A Psychological Investigation

7/7 Bombers, The - A Psychological Investigation

Subjects: Crime, Current Events, Global Issues, International Justice, International Relations, Islam, Law, Law Enforcement, Political Science, Psychology, Terrorism, World Religions

Grade Level: SrH-Adult
Producer: BBC
Closed Captioned: No

Running Time: 50 mins
Country of Origin: Great Britain
Study Guide: No

Copyright Date: 2005
Available in French: No

On July 7th 2005 Britain experienced its first ever suicide bombing. As the carnage in central London unfolded and the extent of the devastation and loss of life was realised, many assumed that those responsible must be mad, crazed fanatics. But as details of the bombers were uncovered, a far more terrifying picture emerged. The bombers were four seemingly ordinary young men who had grown up in a liberal British democracy. No researcher in the field has been able to come up with any psychological trait that is common to suicide bombers.

To understand the motivation of a suicide bomber, it is essential to look at the circumstances in a person's life and group dynamics, not individual psychology. According to psychologist Andrew Silke, we act differently when we are part of a group; our thoughts, opinions and actions become more exaggerated. It follows then, that a collection of men resenting society at large can develop a common religious collective identity, egging each other on into greater extremism. Of course, not everybody with strong religious beliefs joins an extremist group.

For most terrorists a key motivation for joining a terrorist organisation revolves around the desire for revenge. Humans have a natural sense of justice, but studies have shown that religious people have more positive attitudes towards revenge – as do young people, and males.The role of a wider organisation in suicide terrorism is also critical. Virtually every suicide attack in modern times has been conceived and managed by militant groups in a position of weakness compared to their materially stronger foes. From the Kamikaze pilots to the 9/11 hijackers to the Tamil Tigers, young men are organised into smaller units and the heroic nature of their mission and self-sacrifice is emphasized.

Caught on CCTV, each with their rucksack full of explosives, the four men look totally calm. They are completely prepared for the task ahead. The bonds within the group are now stronger than any real kinship bonds they have.Each man enters a crowded tube train – rubbing shoulders with the innocent travellers that they are about to kill. But to the bombers, their targets have become de-humanized. They deliberately avoid thinking about their victims, blocking out the horror of what they are doing.

This film presents a chilling psychological autopsy, piecing together the mental state of the July 7th bombers on their final, fateful journey. How has Britain produced these home-grown killers? And how can it be prevented from happening again?

Click here to view all our New Releases

Featured Titles