Book Review: Suicide Bombers: Does an Evolutionary Perspective Make a Difference?

Abstract

Reviews the book, The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters, and Other Self-Destructive Killers by A. Lankford (2013). The book focuses on the similarities between suicide terrorists and others who commit suicide and murder-suicide. Contrary to popular opinion, the author proposes that suicide bombers are psychologically similar to those who take their own lives for other reasons. Theorizing that suicide bombers are not motivated by their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the greater good, he contends the act is the result of mental health issues and individual crises. Utilizing primary sources along with secondary sources, Lankford identified over 130 suicide bombers who possessed risk factors for suicide. His research also examined the similarities and differences between suicide terrorists and workplace, rampage, and school shooters and found evidence of similar motives. Both terrorists and shooters were equally likely to have suffered from issues in their professional and personal life. Lankford also includes testimony from suicide terrorist recruiters and reviews several cases studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)