Summary Of The Myth Of Martrydom By Adam Lankford

Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama, studies the minds of those who claim they would murder strangers to advance their political goals. His book, The Myth of Martrydom, provides several arguments as to how society has been continuously deceived by the misconception that suicide terrorists and other self-destructive killers are in fact, normal psychologically stable individuals. Lankford reveals parallels that exist between suicide bombers, hijackers and rampage shooters in order to deliver a unique outlook on suicide terrorism around the world. Lankford takes you through the minds of suicide bombers, airplane hijackers, terrorists, cult members, school shooters, and more. His findings account nothing
but fear, failure, guilt, and rage proven through different case studies, suicide notes, love letters, diary entries and videos. He attempts to contrast the psychopathology of these killers with the bravery of heroic citizens who sacrifice their lives for what they believe in. It is only by exploring the deepest, darkest secrets of suicide terrorists, Lankford says – and discovering exactly how they differ from true heroes – that they will ever be able to be stopped. Lankford’s central argument in his book is that by definition, all suicide terrorists are suicidal. First and foremost, he begins by telling the reader not to listen to what comes out of the mouth of a suicide terrorist because “you can’t believe everything you hear.” Lankford claims that for years, terrorist leaders have tricked the world’s smartest men and women into believing that they are martyrs, normal people who make sacrifices for a greater cause. In reality, many of these people are mentally unstable and looking for an easy justifiable way to commit suicide. Suicidal people often appear to be rational actors who behave in calculated and premeditated ways.” With that being said, why bother taking the words of these terrorists for anything of value at all? How does one know what to believe and who to believe? How is someone even supposed to know the difference? No one knows the truth, that’s the point. Yet Lankford bases the majority of his book off of testimonials, and videos and interviews with suicide terrorists and their relatives, when in reality they could be plotting an act to advance their political beliefs as well! Many of the author’s viewpoints can be argued in opposite directions, which make his arguments more opinion than fact – over assumptions.
Lankford expresses his ideas in a way that seems to be contradictory to some of his beliefs. In his book, he blames suicide terrorism experts of being somewhat under educated and over-emphasizing the political/ideological dimension of the topic. However, Lankford himself over-emphasizes the psychological/behavioural dimension of suicide terrorism over other variables that are just as, if not more important. While the book makes some interesting points, understanding suicide terrorists as mainly mentally unstable individuals, if followed, may channel the efforts of national security professionals away from more relevant causes and triggers of suicide terrorism, and terrorism in general. This can be dangerous for a country’s national security. Another example of a weak argument the author makes is the in the case of Mohammed Atta, the most influential suicide terrorist in human history. He was the ringleader of the nineteen hijackers who struck on September 11, 2001. Lankford states that because Atta was in social isolation as a child, depressed in his later years, and struggled with feelings of guilt and shame throughout his life, suicide was the ultimate goal of his terrorist
attack. The implication that Lankford that suggests Atta committed suicide because of these factors affecting his life is under supported. It is more arguable to say many suicide terrorists posses these traits throughout their lifetime, however not all of them commit suicide. These are traits common to millions of people around the world. Furthermore, the author fails to explain that suicide is not always an important risk factor to every doctor. “Being depressed doesn’t mean you are actually suicidal even if you have feelings of suicide” Lankford’s claims are