Mindsponge-based investigation into suicide terrorism: Comparison
Please note this is a comparison between Version 5 by Minh-Hoang Nguyen and Version 13 by Tam-Tri Le.

TheA mindsponge-based investigation into the psycho-religious mechanism behind suicide attacks” is a psycho-religioucientific book written by three authors mQuan-Hoang Vuong, Minh-Hoang Nguyechn, anism of suicide is an information processingd Tam-Tri Le, first published in 2021. Original summary: “The book examines the psycho-religious mechanism of how the mind perceives the idea of self-killibehind the violent extremism of suicide attacks in the post-9/11 world. It employs the Mindsponge congcept, with a focus on the factor of trust as well as mortality-related information from religious sources. It can be considered an expansion of the new Mindsponge-based suicidal ideation mechanisman original dataset, and new research results obtained from the authors’ statistical investigations using the Hamiltonian Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. It provides insights and implications for policymakers and strategists in their efforts to engage in peace talks and reduce violent conflicts worldwide.

  • mindsponge
  • suicide attack
  • suicide bomber
  • terrorism
  • psycho-religious mechanism

The book's full title: A Mindsponge-Based Investigation into the Psycho-Religious Mechanism Behind Suicide Attacks [1]

Background

In the two decades after the 9/11 incident, the annual total fatality due to suicide attacks is nearly 2500; there have been approximately 43000 deaths from suicide bombings across 56 countries [2]. During this time, the spending of the United States on counterterrorism programs got close to reaching 3 trillion dollars [3]. The European Union member states, Russia, and China also put a lot of regasources and efforts into controlling terrorist threats.

Regarding the understanding of the psychology of suicide attackers, although many scholars agree that religiosity can significantly influence their thoughts and behaviors [14][25][36][47], past theories and approaches have still not been able to reach a major consensus due to the lack of a foundational dynamic framework. Meanwhile, major religions in the world are known to promote peace and generally condemn suicide. Studies on the relationship between religions and suicide found many unexplained inconsistencies [58][69][710], for there has been a lack of deep exploration into its psychological mechanism in terms of information processing. It is worth noting that past studies have shown religions have protective effects against suicidal attempts but not suicidal ideation.

Psycho-religious mechanism

The psycho-religious mechanism of suicide is developed based on the foundation of the suicidal ideation mechanism [811] using the Mindsponge information-processing framework [912][1013]. The two basic conditions include information accessibility (sources for reception) and information filtering (through subjective cost-benefit judgments). In the psycho-religious mechanism, the factor of trust in religiosity is particularly focused. The main rationale and principles of the mechanism are briefly presented as follows.

Religious teachings are a major source of information on death and death’s spiritual meanings in society. Reception of such information increases the probability of considerations about those aspects. In people with low social connectedness, the ratio of information reception from religious sources is higher; this is due to the differences in properties between generalized social trust and religious faith/belief. Religious people also have a higher level of reliance on religious leaders as a source for help-related information in situations of personal difficulties (which follows the same pattern of trusting as above). Thus, under the condition of low social connectedness, religiosity and reception from religious information sources can increase the probability of suicidal ideation. It is crucial to note that suicidal ideation is only the consideration on the option of suicide. As religious people highly trust religious leaders (and their interpretations of religious teachings), the leading figures have an important and effective role in preventing suicidal ideation from progressing into attempts.

In a hostile context, extremist groups can exploit the trusting pattern and death’s value judgment in the psycho-religious mechanism to recruit suicide-bombers. Dangerously, these extremists may deliberately misinterpret religious teaching for effectively attaching values of violence to the action of suicide with a high level of acceptance, which not only increases the subjective benefit of suicide but also links it with violent actions (suicide attack). Applying the same principles in the psycho-religious mechanism, countermeasures should be mutual trust-building in a sustainably open multicultural living environment with careful management based on proper understanding and collaboration.

Book's content

The psychbo-religious mechanism of suicide first appearedok has seven chapters:

  • Chapter 1 reviews major events and trends of suicide attacks on a global scale, including national and international countermeasures (e.g. dedicated organizations, programs, operations), as well as scientific research on the issue (e.g. related psychosocial theories, viewpoints) and their current obstacles and limitations.
  • Chapter 2 reviews the most representative interpretation and attitude of each major religion toward suicide and the afterlife, as well as scientific findings of the relationship between religion and suicide.
  • Chapter 3 presents in detail the structures and principles of the Mindsponge framework which serves as the theoretical foundation for developing the psycho-religious mechanism; core ideas are also demonstrated through easy-to-follow examples of simple and familiar phenomena.
  • Chapter 4 presents an empirical investigation using an original dataset with open and detailed description for every stage from model design to statistical analysis and result visualization; this aims to provide supporting evidence for the theoretical establishment as well as to show the advantages and potentials of utilizing the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF) in tackling psychosocial problems [14].
  • Chapter 5 goes deeper into the suicidal mind, exploring one by one the core concepts within the psycho-religious mechanism and explains how extremist groups can exploit the power of belief to drive people into becoming suicide attackers.
  • Chapter 6 puts the mechanism into real-world politics and global security issues, discussing what may go wrong on a global scale if counterterrorism efforts are built upon misperceptions and miscalculations.
  • Chapter 7 presents several principles for improving the effectiveness of battle against suicide attackers and global terrorism on both short-term micro and long-term macro scales; practical collaboration between religious leaders and governments as well as international trust-building coordinated by an improved United Nations are promoted.

As andof was discussed inAugust 2021, the book titis available at 12 libraries worldwided "A Mindsponge-Based Investigation into the Psycho-Religious Mechanism Behind Suicide Attacks" [11]. Based on the mechanism, the book's authors suggest practical collaborations between religious leaders and governments as well as international trust-building coordinated by an improved United Nations..

References

  1. Horowitz MC. (2015). The Rise and Spread of Suicide Bombing. Annual Review of Political Science, 18(1), 69–84. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-062813-051049Vuong QH, Nguyen MH, Le TT. (2021). A Mindsponge-Based Investigation into the Psycho-Religious Mechanism Behind Suicide Attacks. Warsaw, Poland: De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.2478/9788366675599
  2. Pape RA. (2008). Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism. In Perry M & Negrin HE (Eds.), The Theory and Practice of Islamic Terrorism: An Anthology (pp. 129–132). Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230616509_18Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPOST). (2021). Database on Suicide Attacks (October 2, 2020 Release). Retrieved from: http://cpost.uchicago.edu/
  3. Merari A. (2010). Driven to death: Psychological and social aspects of suicide terrorism. Oxford University Press.Stimson Study Group on Counterterrorism Spending. (2018). Protecting America while promoting efficiencies and accountability. Retrieved from Washinton DC: https://www.stimson.org/wp-content/files/file-attachments/CT_Spending_Report_0.pdf
  4. Crenshaw M. (2007). “Explaining Suicide Terrorism: A Review Essay.” Security Studies, 16(1), 133–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636410701304580Horowitz MC. (2015). The Rise and Spread of Suicide Bombing. Annual Review of Political Science, 18(1), 69–84. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-062813-051049
  5. Gearing RE, Lizardi D. (2009). Religion and Suicide. Journal of Religion and Health, 48(3), 332–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9181-2 Pape RA. (2008). Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism. In Perry M & Negrin HE (Eds.), The Theory and Practice of Islamic Terrorism: An Anthology (pp. 129–132). Palgrave Macmillan US. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230616509_18
  6. Gearing RE, Alonzo D. (2018). Religion and Suicide: New Findings. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(6), 2478–2499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8Merari A. (2010). Driven to death: Psychological and social aspects of suicide terrorism. Oxford University Press.
  7. Lawrence RE, Oquendo MA, Stanley B. (2016). Religion and Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review. Archives of Suicide Research, 20(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1004494Crenshaw M. (2007). “Explaining Suicide Terrorism: A Review Essay.” Security Studies, 16(1), 133–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09636410701304580
  8. Nguyen MH, Le TT, Nguyen HKT, Ho MT, Nguyen HTT, Vuong QH. (2021). Alice in Suicideland: Exploring the suicidal ideation mechanism through the sense of connectedness and help-seeking behaviors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3681. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073681Gearing RE, Lizardi D. (2009). Religion and Suicide. Journal of Religion and Health, 48(3), 332–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-008-9181-2
  9. Vuong QH. (2016). Global mindset as the integration of emerging socio-cultural values through mindsponge processes: A transition economy perspective. In J. Kuada (Ed.), Global Mindsets: Exploration and Perspectives (pp. 123-140). New York: Routledge.Gearing RE, Alonzo D. (2018). Religion and Suicide: New Findings. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(6), 2478–2499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-018-0629-8
  10. Vuong QH, Napier NK. (2015). Acculturation and global mindsponge: An emerging market perspective. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 49, 354-367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.06.003 Lawrence RE, Oquendo MA, Stanley B. (2016). Religion and Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review. Archives of Suicide Research, 20(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2015.1004494
  11. Vuong QH, Nguyen MH, Le TT. (2021). A Mindsponge-Based Investigation into the Psycho-Religious Mechanism Behind Suicide Attacks. Sciendo. https://doi.org/10.2478/9788366675599Nguyen MH, Le TT, Nguyen HKT, Ho MT, Nguyen HTT, Vuong QH. (2021). Alice in Suicideland: Exploring the suicidal ideation mechanism through the sense of connectedness and help-seeking behaviors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3681. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073681
  12. Vuong QH. (2016). Global mindset as the integration of emerging socio-cultural values through mindsponge processes: A transition economy perspective. In J. Kuada (Ed.), Global Mindsets: Exploration and Perspectives (pp. 123-140). New York: Routledge.
  13. Vuong QH, Napier NK. (2015). Acculturation and global mindsponge: An emerging market perspective. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 49, 354-367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.06.003
  14. Nguyen MH, Le TT. (2021). Bayesian Mindsponge Framework. Scholarly Community Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: https://encyclopedia.pub/138
More