Almatea Usuelli

Un'analisi psicoanalitica del terrorismo

216

Settembre-Dicembre 2007

Anno LXXII    n. 3

Summary - The author underlines the difficulty of trying to define terrorism, a task both problematic and controversial. Several points of view are examined on the causes of terrorism in relation to historical, economic and social issues. This introductory survey, maybe too long and to short at the same time, has the purpose of defining the field of our psychological investigation. Particular attention is placed on the concept of trauma and the idea that psychological dynamics common in terrorist violence cannot be analysed outside their historical, social, etc. contexts. Special reference is made to group dynamics, to the impact of leadership and the importance of revolutionary ideology and/or religious fundamentalism. Finally the hypothesis of the collapse of transitional space in the terrorist dynamic is examined, in particular the consequent loss of distinction between fantasy and reality, analogous to what happens in a delusional state.