Are Aspies more prone to being radicalised into terrorism?

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Derka derka

I don't think there is any significant difference between Aspies and NTs in proneness to being radicalized into terrorism. But I do think that NTs are more likely to be radicalized into terrorism through positive reinforcement from extremest groups, whereas Aspies are more likely to be radicalized into terrorism through negative reinforcement from society and people in general. NTs would be more likely to be convinced that an act of terrorism is justified through the influence of their peers, whereas Aspies would be more likely to be convinced that an act of terrorism is justified through direct, negative experience with humanity.

Terrorists are known to avoid people who have mental disorders, as they tend to be security risks. Being a good terrorist requires having nerves of steel and a sense of discretion and disguise. They do not want someone who has a meltdown because plans had to be changed at the last minute, or because he has to be sent to a strange country and go native.

Also, terrorists tend to develop very strong emotional bonds with each other. Aspies are terrible at bonding with others, so it's unlikely they'll embrace an aspie as a brother and risk using him in assignments.

It's not out of the question, but aspies do not sound desirable.

Asperger's is not a mental illness. Of course Aspies can have co-morbids but I'm not sure what you imply when you say "mental disorders".

My theory is that we might be easier to capture into a cult-like group, but we would be too uncomfortable with being told to feel something against someone or some group, that we didn't actually feel. There is very little bigotry or prejudice in the Autism community, as far as I've seen. I was raised in a white=superior-attitude household, and I never understood it and never accepted it. I never noticed any friends' color until someone would point it out, and if I were told that I shouldn't like that person for the reason that they're not the same color, I would feel puzzled by that, and not feel it, and even feel weird because I didn't understand it. I think the Autism community is much more likely to question and oppose any terrorist or bigoted teachings, than NTs in many cases.

Charles

Whatever. Aspies are abnormal. Their behavior and capacities will create all sorts of problems that terrorist cells might not want to deal with.

This view would seem to suggest three things:

1. That those with AS are prone to gullibility/manipulation. Whether true or not, any rational person could see the difference between what is right, and what is wrong, what is acceptable, and what is not, and would be accountable for their actions according to the law.

2. That those with AS are more likely to become an extremist. I personally do not believe that at all and I think this particular view is the reason people hate us now, because they expect us to suddenly kill a bunch of people (which obviously is NOT the case).

3. That we are incapable of the same rational thought that "NT's" are. Contrary to popular belief, we are capable of rational, logical thought, and we can come to our own conclusions in life without needing constant guidence from everyone under the sun. We're no more prone to become radicals than the next person.

I think this topic has a rather unnecessary spin towards those with AS, the reason I say that is because:

1. Anyone who is naive to that degree, could be drawn in by extremists, not just those with AS. One has very little do with the other.

2. There is no mention as to the effects of such radicals on "NT's", and honestly I think it's more likely that someone who's viewed as "normal" could join a radical/extremist group, simply because they are capable of having the mentality of a radical and generally have a better vested interest in some radical views. Do I mean to say they are prone to such behavior? Of course not, but it's well documented that those on the spectrum are more likely to be victims than aggressors, and based on that data, it isn't hard to conclude that those on the spectrum wouldn't likely go bomb some building somewhere. And it's also been well documented that "NT's" are more likely to be aggressors (by way of the same studies, mind you) towards other people, including those on the spectrum. Does this mean all "NT's" are aggressive? No, of course not, like us, they're no more prone to violent tendiencies for being normal, than we are prone to being a radical for having AS.

My point is, something like this (the topic of discussion) could potentially happen to anyone, not just us. I think that needs to be a point of fact here before someone loses sight of certain things and draws unnecessary conclusions. We get enough demonization from the world, no point in doing it to ourselves, they don't need help in condemning us for having an ASD.

No, but we could easily to a scapegoat.

I think autistic people are more likely than other groups to stick to their own moral code. This has been the case for me, for what it's worth. In the short term, auties might be more gullible or likely to take things at face value because the information may be presented in an overwhelming way; but in the long term, the characteristics of the individual with take precedence.

From what I've heard of terrorist groups, these are very close-knit, conformist, emotionally-bonded groups. This doesn't sound like the kind of people who would embrace somebody who is socially stunted, aloof and withdrawn.

Nothing say that aspies are but "vulnerable to esoteric movements owing to a strong need to belong" is one of the clinical features of schizoid personality disorder, but that's still far away from being violent
I think it's unlikely that autistics would be more prone to that than NTs, probably the opposite. You make it sound like there are terrorists desperate to get aspies (or anyone!) to join and I doubt that's happening.

I suspect that yes - aspies will be at risk to being radicalized in terrorism, because... aspies are at risk to be radicals (the obsession with a single issue and the black-and-white thinking will do that, if applied to politics). And from political radicalism is only a small step to be willing to use violence "for the cause".

Many comments in these thread have counter-argued that apies will be difficult to brainwash, that are less subjected to peer pressure, etc. but I question the assumption that terrorists are brainwashed or victims of peer pressure - if anything, in western countries, the brainwashing/peer pressure is to be a law abiding citizen, and to vote in moderate parties in regular elections; it is extremism that requires independent thinking. And if you look to the usual history of radical groups (both peaceful or violent groups), they seem to live in a state of perpetual split (like ETA spliting in "ETA 5" and "ETA 6"; and then "ETA 5" spliting in "Militar ETA" and "Political-Militar ETA"; or the splits between Official IRA, Provisional IRA, Real IRA, Continuity IRA, Irish National Liberation Army...), who seems to indicate that the defining characteristic of many terrorists (and extremist in general) is less "being brainwashed" and more "being incapable of making compromises" (this inability to compromise, first leave them to radical groups, and then makes they to leave the group and create a new at the first small disagreament).

[TPE2 - possibly an Aspie, with a special interest in politics, simpatizer of extremists political groups since 15 y.o.]

I agree

You've got to shrug off the general social conditioning to become a terrorist

Most people are unable to do this and many don't even realise the extent to which they have been conditioned by society
in the first place

They just look forward to getting the next ipad-type gadget like nice little well-conditioned consumers

Governments have nothing to fear when peoples' main interests are possessions and watching kittens do silly things online
- they absolutely love it when people are this brainless!

I've got a lot of admiration for anyone who wants to challenge the status quo, to improve society but I don't think killing people is the right way to go about it

Last edited by nessa238 on 29 Apr 2013, 8:15 am, edited 2 times in total.

I have not made it sound like that Anomiel, that is clearly how you have misinterpreted it. I shouldn't be surprised since you regularly misinterpret my posts and overreact.

A passage of Kretschmer about "schizoid temperament", but I suspect that the same could be applied to some Aspies (specially because in the 1920s - where the article was written - autism and Asperger's where not known yet):