Monitor on Psychology - September 2011 - (Page 77)

Bin Laden’s What death: does it Political and social psychologists weigh in. B Y TORI D eANG ELIS mean? M ilitary and political leaders don’t yet know the full extent of the ramifications of the al Qaeda leader’s death, for his terrorist organization or for the United States. But political and social psychologists are already considering questions and looking for answers in past research and in case studies of terrorist leaders and movements. For al Qaeda and its potential recruits, Osama bin Laden’s death will likely deal a blow on several levels, maintains social and political psychologist Arie Kruglanski, PhD, an investigator at the National Center for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland. On an operational level, the charismatic leader’s demise may mean even greater fragmentation of the already splintered group, since “there is evidence that [he] continued to sign off on the largest plots and operations of the al Qaeda network and its affiliates,” Kruglanski says. His demise is likely to affect the inspirational level as well, Kruglanski says. “Bin Laden was a very special figure — he proved himself in battle, he sacrificed his material interests for the cause, and he was able to organize spectacular attacks against the United States and 77 septeMber 2011 • Monitor on psychology

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - September 2011

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Supreme Court hears psychologists on prison and video game cases
Antipsychotics are overprescribed in nursing homes
New MCAT likely to recognize the mind-body connection
A $2 million boost for military and families
In Brief
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
On Your Behalf
Judicial Notebook
Random Sample
TIME CAPSULE
QUESTIONNAIRE
Speaking of Education
SCIENCE WATCH
An uncertain future for American workers
Advocating for psychotherapy
PRACTICE PROFILE
ETHICALLY SPEAKING
Seared in our memories
Helping kids cope in an uncertain world
APA and Nickelodeon team up
Muslims in America, post 9/11
Bin Laden’s death
‘They expect us to be there’
Answering the call of public policy
Candidates answer final questions
APA News
Division Spotlight
New leaders
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
Disaster relief training
Honoring teaching excellence
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - September 2011