Understanding Suicide Terrorism: Psychosocial Dynamics

The book is a comprehensive compilation of articles by experts in the field of suicide terrorism from across the world and across disciplines with a focus on suicide missions. It provides an insightful perspective on suicide terror as a phenomenon and as a process, and suggests psychosocial pathways for understanding the enigma that suicide terror poses.

Understanding Suicide Terrorism delves upon the enigmatic issue of suicide terrorism. The book is an interdisciplinary multi-faceted venture that brings together scholarly work from across the world, across cultures and societies on the issue of suicide terror. The common thread weaving through all the articles is the notion of suicide terror as a complex phenomenon that defies easy explanation, prediction or controllability. Informed by theoretical stances of not only psychological sciences, but other social sciences like political science, criminology, military and sociology the book is an insightful reading.

Updesh Kumar, Ph.D., is a Scientist ‘F’ and in the chair of the Head, Mental Health Division at Defence Institute of Psychological Research, R&D Organization, Ministry of Defence, Delhi, India. Dr Kumar obtained his Doctorate degree from Punjab University, Chandigarh. With more than 23 years of experience as a scientist in R&D organization, he specializes in the area of suicidal behavior, personality assessment, and personnel selection and has developed a number of psychological tests and assessment tools. Dr Kumar has been a psychological assessor (psychologist) in various services selection boards for eight years for the selection of officers in Indian Armed Forces. He is a certified psychologist by The British Psychological Society with level ‘A’ and level ‘B’ Certificate of Competence in Occupational Testing. He has to his credit many important research projects relating to the Armed Forces. Dr Kumar has edited four quality volumes on ‘Recent Developments in Psychology,’ ‘Counseling: A Practical Approach,’ ‘Suicidal Behaviour: Assessment of People at Risk’ (SAGE Publications), and recently ‘Countering Terrorism: Psychosocial Strategies’ published by SAGE Publications, ‘Positive Psychology: Applications in Work, Health and Well-being’ (in press, Pearson Publication) and ‘Suicidal Behaviour: Underlying Dynamics’ (in press, Routledge Publication, UK). Dr Kumar has authored manuals on ‘Suicide and Fratricide: Dynamics and Management’ for defense personnel, ‘Managing Emotions in Daily Life & at Work Place’ for general population, ‘Overcoming Obsolescence & Becoming Creative in R&D Environment’ for R&D organizations, and ‘Self-Help Techniques in Military Settings.’ He has authored more than 50 other academic publications in the form of research papers, journal articles, and book chapters and represented his institute at national and international level. He has been the recipient of Defence R&D organization’s (DRDO) Technology Group Award in 2001 and 2009, and Professor Manju Thakur Memorial Award 2009 by Indian Academy of Psychology (IAAP). He was also conferred with the DRDO’s Best Popular Science Communication Award 2009 by Hon’ble Defence Minister of India and DRDO Technology Day Award, 2012 by Hon’ble Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister. Dr Kumar has been recently conferred upon with the prestigious DRDO’s Scientist of the Year Award 2013 by the Government of India.

Manas K. Mandal, Ph.D., is currently Director General (Life Sciences), Defence R&D Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, Delhi. Dr Mandal obtained his postgraduate and Doctorate degrees from Calcutta University in 1979 and 1984, respectively. He has completed his Postdoctoral Research Program at Delware University (Fulbright Fellow), USA in 1986–1987 and at Waterloo University (Shastri & NSERC Fellow), Canada in 1993–1994. Dr Mandal was a Professor of Psychology at Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He was also a visiting professor at Kyushu University, Japan in 1997. During 2003, he was a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer, Harvard University, USA. He has been awarded various Research Fellowships and Scientific Awards such as International Scientific Exchange Award (Canada), Seymour Kety Grant (USA). Recipient of four prestigious awards from the Prime Minister of India, Young Scientist Award (1986), Agni Award for Excellence in Self-Reliance (2005), Scientist-of-the Year Award (2006), Technology Spin-Off Award (2007). Dr Mandal has to his credit seven books, and over 100 research papers/chapters published in peer-reviewed journals/books. These researches are cited in more than 125 international journals and books.