Synonyms
Definition
Suicide terrorism as directed kin altruism might entail monetary benefits to the kin of the attacker.
Introduction
One tactic used by terror organizations to recruit combatants is to offer monetary compensation to the family members following the completion of a successful attack. Reciprocal altruism and kin selection might factor into decision-making concerning whether one should undertake a suicide mission.
Theoretical Overview: Monetary Benefits to Kin
From an evolutionary perspective, providing monetary compensation to the family members of suicide attackers might play a role in the cost-benefit analysis of suicide terrorism since genetic kin would ostensibly receive benefits that could enhance their fitness. According to Human Rights Watch (2002), Hamas paid the families of suicide attackers between $10,000 and $25,000, and as cited in Bloom (2004) also provided services such as medical care (Blackwell 2006)....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Blackwell, A. D. (2006). Terrorism, heroism, and altruism: The behavioral ecology of Palestinian suicide attack as a model for the evolution of self-sacrificial behavior in humans. Doctoral dissertation. University of Oregon.
Bloom, M. M. (2004). Palestinian suicide bombing: public support, market share, and outbidding. Political Science Quarterly 119, 61–88.
Hamilton, W. D. (1963). The evolution of altruistic behavior. The American Naturalist, 97(896), 354–356.
Krueger, A. B., & Malečková, J. (2003). Education, poverty and terrorism: Is there a causal connection? The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17(4), 119–144.
Pedahzur, A., Perlinger, A., & Weinburg, L. (2003). Altruism and fatalism: The characteristics of Palestinian suicide terrorists. Deviant Behavior, 24, 404–424.
Trivers, R. L. (1971). The evolution of reciprocal altruism. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 46(1), 35–57.
Human Rights Watch. (2002). Erased in a moment: Suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians. New York: Human Rights Watch Publications.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Syme, K. (2018). Monetary. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_598-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_598-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences