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Outcome-oriented moral evaluation in terrorists

Author

Listed:
  • Sandra Baez

    (Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University
    Universidad de los Andes
    National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET))

  • Eduar Herrera

    (Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University
    National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
    Universidad ICESI)

  • Adolfo M. García

    (Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University
    National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
    Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo))

  • Facundo Manes

    (Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University
    National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
    Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez)

  • Liane Young

    (Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467)

  • Agustín Ibáñez

    (Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University
    National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
    Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez
    ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, Macquarie University)

Abstract

As shown by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, terrorism is one of the most pernicious threats to contemporary societies1. In addition to obliterating the freedom and physical integrity of victims, terrorist practices can destabilize governments, undermine civil harmony and threaten economic development1. This is tragically corroborated by the recent history of Colombia, a country marked by escalations of paramilitary terrorist violence2. Although multiple disciplines are struggling to understand these atrocities, the contributions from cognitive science have been limited. Social cognition abilities3,4,5,6,7 have been proposed as important variables in relation to criminal and violent profiles. Against this background, this study aimed to assess the moral judgements and social-cognitive profiles of 66 ex-combatants from a paramilitary terrorist group. We found that moral judgement in terrorists is abnormally guided by outcomes rather than by the integration of intentions and outcomes. This pattern was partially related to emotion recognition and proactive aggression scores but independent from other cognitive domains. In addition, moral judgement was the measure that best discriminated between terrorists and non-criminals.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandra Baez & Eduar Herrera & Adolfo M. García & Facundo Manes & Liane Young & Agustín Ibáñez, 2017. "Outcome-oriented moral evaluation in terrorists," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(6), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:1:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1038_s41562-017-0118
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-017-0118
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    Cited by:

    1. Sandra Baez & Michel Patiño-Sáenz & Jorge Martínez-Cotrina & Diego Mauricio Aponte & Juan Carlos Caicedo & Hernando Santamaría-García & Daniel Pastor & María Luz González-Gadea & Martín Haissiner & Ad, 2020. "The impact of legal expertise on moral decision-making biases," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Kiran M. Sarma & Sarah L. Carthy & Katie M. Cox, 2022. "Mental disorder, psychological problems and terrorist behaviour: A systematic review and meta‐analysis," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), September.

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