Inside the Mind Series
Post 1: “The Blueprint of a Bomber: Timothy McVeigh”
A case study in narcissism, moral disengagement, and mission-oriented violence.
✅ Already complete.
Post 2: “Lone Wolves or Ticking Clocks? The Psychology of Isolation and Radicalization”
Explore how social disconnection, identity crises, and exposure to extremist ideologies create the perfect storm for domestic terrorism.
What radicalizes the "average" citizen?
How echo chambers reinforce cognitive rigidity
The role of online communities and digital grooming
Post 3: “Ideology as Identity: When Belief Justifies Violence”
Examine how belief systems (political, religious, or conspiratorial) can become so fused with a person’s identity that violence feels like duty.
Cognitive dissonance and moral licensing
Case studies: Eric Rudolph, Ted Kaczynski
When belief trumps empathy
Post 4: “The Moral Disengagement Mechanism: How Killers Sleep at Night”
Delve into how terrorists dehumanize their targets and mentally distance themselves from the impact of their violence.
Displacement of responsibility
Euphemistic labeling ("collateral damage")
Just-world fallacy and revenge narratives
Post 5: “The Aftermath Mindset: Guilt, Remorse, or Justification?”
What happens in the mind of a terrorist after the crime?
Analyzing courtroom behavior, manifestos, and interviews
The difference between remorseful vs remorseless profiles
How forensic psychologists assess risk of re-offense or ideological persistence
Post 6: “Profiling the Patriot: The Dangerous Psychology of Sovereign Citizens”
A deep dive into the “sovereign citizen” movement and its unique psychological profile.
Anti-government paranoia
Narcissistic delusions of legal invulnerability
Patterned behavioral threats toward law enforcement
Post 7: “Prevention and Prediction: Can We See It Coming?”
Wrap up with the challenges and ethical limits of profiling and intervention.
How forensic psychology aids law enforcement
The fine line between thought and action
Red flag laws, psychological screening, and behavioral threat assessment
