Killing for a Higher Cause: Political Violence in a World in Crisis

Merari notes that many suicide bombers are not mentally ill, in fact, they're well adjusted to the society they live in. It's normal to be influenced by people around us. All I can say is, nature clearly knows what it's doing when it creates people who go against the grain. But perhaps nature does not consider going-against-the-grain people to be abnormal. Maybe it's our beliefs about normalcy that are off.


Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Expert Shares Suicide Bomber Research March 4
The lecture is part of a semester-long lecture series on political conflict.
Event Details

* 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4
* Nasitir Hall 100
* Free and open to the public

Ariel Merari will present his research of suicide bombers during his presentation, "In their own voice: Interviews with, and psychological tests of suicide bombers, their commanders and families." Merari speaks at 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4, in Nasatir Hall, room 100. The event is free and open to the public.

About Merari

Ariel Merari is professor emeritus, Department of Psychology, at Tel Aviv University in Israel. He has studied every suicide bombing in the Middle East since the U.S. Marine barracks attack in Beirut 25 years ago.

About the lecture series

SDSU’s spring lecture series, “Killing for a Higher Cause: Political Violence in a World in Crisis,” takes an in-depth look at political violence and conflict around the world.