Terrorism, Domestic and International Terrorism

Terrorism is described as crimes committed by a person or group of people that have some form of hate towards something which they intend to distill fear or intimidation. According to the FBI (n.d.), international terrorism are violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups who are inspired by, associated with, designated foreign terrorist organizations or nations (state-sponsored). While domestic terrorism is violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such of a political, religious, social, racials, or environmental nature. One example of an international terrorist group is the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), while Eric Rudolph who bombed and killed the Olympic Games in 1996 would be considered as a domestic terrorist.

Elliot Rodger- Involuntary Celibacy (Incel) Terrorist

In Isla Vista, California, on May 23rd, 2014, Eliot Rodger killed six people in a violent shooting and stabbing rampage. According to BBC News (2018), “he planned his murderous rampage as a “Day of Retribution” and said he had “no choice but to exact revenge on the society” that had denied him sex and love”. He stabbed two of his roommates, shot 2 women outside of a sorority house, and then went on a rampage firing at a man and killing him. Eliot’s quote, “If I can’t have it, I will destroy it”, was his viewpoint for his outrage. Eliot wanted to purposely target the sorority house because he thought they had the prettiest females and that they were the types that would deny having sex with him. His lonely and insecure life led him to post various messages online about himself. During his younger years, his family would tease him because he was a virgin and never kissed a female. Rodgers has gained many supporters and people idolize him for the hate he showed against women and for committing the crime spree. Eliot Rodger committed suicide after posting a video about the act he just committed.

According to Witt (2020), These killers share a common connection through their participation and membership within an online subculture of the Men’s Rights Movement, MRM), known as the ‘involuntary celibate’ or ‘incel’ community”. Involuntary celibates (incels) are people or a person who may target women due to sexual frustrations. They are unlikely to find sexual partners in which they are attracted to and dislike rejection. While they mainly targeted women, they may also target men as well. Cottee (2021), “there are no female incels: women who invoke a master status based on the claim that men deprive them of sex and inherently demonic”. Incels desire a specific bond from the people they show resentment towards and in this case, he targeted women who look like the women who disregarded him. Within the articles, incels were described as loners and were socially isolated from the world. Some of the incels were known to have mental health issues, health issues, or even personal issues. Although Eliott did not have any mental health issues, after committing his criminal acts, many researchers believed he did. As mentioned by Witt (2020), “he described himself as separated from humanity, denied a normal life, and existing in a near-constant state of emotional distress”.

“Although the incel subculture draws on a reservoir of misogyny that finds validation in the wider culture, anyone who as spent even a moment inside an incel online forum will be stuck by its cultural specifities” (Cottee, 2021). Rodgers was known to be a frequent user in this community. After his rampage, members within the incel community praised him and even called him “Saint Eliott”. Members praised him because they believe that he wrote and conducted his manifesto of frustrations. As Eliot remains a hero within the incel community, his criminal acts remain symbol of how he perceived women whom he was unable to gain attention from.

References

BBC News. (2018, April 25). Eliot Rodger: How misogynist killer became ‘incel hero’. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43892189

Cottee, S. (2021). Incel (E)motives: Resentment, Shame, and Revenge. Studies in Conflicts & Terrorism, 44(2), 93-114.https://www.doi.org/10.1080/1057610X.2020.1822589

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). What We Investigate. https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/terrorismLinks to an external site.

Sparks, B., Zidenberg, A. M., & Olver, M. E. (2023). One is the loneliest number: Involuntary celibacy (incel), mental health, and loneliness. Current Psychology, 1-15. https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04275-zLinks to an external site.

Witt, T. (2020). ‘If I cannot have it, I will do everything I can to destroy it.’ The canonization of Elliot Rodger” ‘Incel’ masculinities, secular sainthood, and justifications of ideological violence. Social Identities, 26(5), 675-689. https://www.doi.org/10.1080/13504630.2020.1787132Links to an external site.