Concepts of Self Perception, Authoritarianism and Self Affirmation

Concepts of Self Perception, Authoritarianism and Self Affirmation

Johnny “Mad Dog” Adair was born on 27 October 1963. He is formally known as Jonathan Adair an Ulster loyalist. Jonathan Adair is also the “C Company” former leader at the second Battalion Shankill Road. The group being “Ulster Freedom Fighters” (UFF) located at West Belfast Brigade. The name “mad dog” was a cover title used by the loyalist paramilitary organization (Ulster Defense Association). In 2002 there was a series of antagonism and power conflict within the group that resulted to the expulsion of Adair. As a result, Adair, family members and a group affiliates fled from Northern Ireland. This resulted from the paranoid of UDA mainstream.

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According to multiple research findings, there is need to apply distinct psychological theories. These theories must provide probable and viable finding that can be compared in order to determine the human behavior and what leads to their actions. This part of the research paper intends to have a comparative analysis of criminals’ avenues into crime. The section aims to use Adair to support the key arguments.  Recent Catastrophic occurrences and terrorist attacks have elevated threats to the public. The attacks also created public fear. Catastrophic attacks, for example, the 9/11 attacks, calls for the need to use criminological and psychological aspects to analyze the perpetrators’ actions. The practice of understanding psychological aspects would assist curb all prospective future attacks.

For decades, political science and religion have been argued to have the monopoly power to explain the mystery of human behavior. This practice has made it difficult to differentiate between terrorists with other criminal perpetrators. The use of certified psychological theories can explain the paradigm of terrorism. Therefore, the terrorist’s motives can be identified and contrasted to decipher various differences and similarities between criminal perpetrators and terrorists. Some of aspects include self perception, authoritarianism and self affirmation.

By having prior understanding of primary motives and causes of terrorism helps in various aspects. The knowledge assists towards establishing a widespread, an efficient and effective counterterrorism strategy. Secondly, by understanding the criminals’ personality, perception and individual characteristics would assist better the functions of counterterrorism. However, for the process to be effective, various factors should be considered (such as contextual and distinct factors) while formulating the crime prevention model.

Jonathan was raised amidst many paramilitaries.  The paramilitaries were believed to roam the streets of Northern Ireland   to protect the community against external threats.  The paramilitaries are perceived to be captive by Adair. The presence of the soldiers indicates the inadequacy of viable rule of law which resulted to Adair’s perceptions warping. Adair’s environment motivated him to have a perception that he needed to engage in a terrorist sect to support the safety of his neighborhood. The antagonism between IRA and UDA lead to violence within Adair’s surroundings. The opposing perceptions of the IRA and the UDA arise from Northern Ireland location, the UDA supported that Northern Ireland was within the United Kingdom vicinity while the IRA opposed. According to Robert Merton study on behavior, Adair’s Behavior of authoritarianism may be categorized as rebellious.  The primary results of strain being egocentric.

Robert Merton identified five probable outcomes that emanate from an individual who is  incapable to legitimately accomplish personal aspirations .For example, due to the nature of IRA attacks, Adair could not stop handle them peacefully. Therefore, retaliation through violence was considered justifiable. Mad Dog Adair was not only against the views of the IRA organization, but instead he aimed to reshuffle the entire social system. His authoritarianism nature aimed to undermine Catholic religion and their objectives. This is a classic behavior that characterized Adair as self-centered, egocentric and irresponsible.

The irresponsible behavior that led to series of attacks represents a viable example of what Merton’s research called ‘rebellion’. Lastly, Adair was brought up in a humble background and people would assume that his terror attacks could be avoided. However, his education background would assist him accomplish critical goals in life.