What are the main reasons that people choose to self-destruct, killing others in the process?
The key motivator for a violent actor who seeks to die like a martyr is a strong attachment to a community, usually a religious community. There are dozens of reasons for killing, but violent martyrdom is first and foremost about belonging. Strong emotional ties and strong feelings of mutual obligation often hold religious societies together. So their actions are geared more toward social rewards or their legacy than the promise of paradise in the afterlife? Yes. We in the West tend to overemphasize belief in such things as heaven, hell, the Messiah, etc. as a motivator for religious actions. The most important element, by far, is social approval, honor, acceptance by the group, the love of a spiritual master and all the joys that go with these. Along these lines, what do you think the most common misconceptions are about the motivations of suicide bombers? We tend to assume that they act out of personal despair, rage, hatred, belief in paradise or having been brainwashed. We also assu
