Authors McCauley and Moskalenko argue that lone-actor terrorists may share common characteristics that could help identify high-risk individuals. Specifically, they examine the profile types: disconnected-disordered, in which individuals are loners with a history of mental disorder; and caring-compelled individuals who feel personal responsibility to bring to justice those responsible for making innocent others suffer. This article is part of a larger white paper covering various perspectives of terrorism and approaches to understanding the phenomenon.
Publication Information
McCauley, Clark and Sophia Moskalenko. (2013). "Two Possible Profiles of Lone-actor Terrorists." In Looking Back, Looking Forward: Perspectives on Terrorism and Responses to It, eds. Hriar Cabayan, Valerie Sitterle, and Matt Yandura. Strategic Multi-layer Assessment Occasional White Paper, Department of Defense: 84-91.