Tahir Rahman, MD

A Fusion of EOB, Archetypes and Thymotic drive.

Let's break down what motivates archetype killers by understanding the triad below: 

1) Extreme Overvalued Beliefs (EOBs)

An extreme overvalued belief is one that is shared by others in a person’s cultural, religious, or subcultural group. The belief is often relished, amplified, and defended by the possessor of the belief and should be differentiated from an obsession or a delusion. The belief grows more dominant over time, more refined and more resistant to challenge. The individual has an intense emotional commitment to the belief and may carry out violent behavior in its service.

2) Thymotic Drive: The human desire for recognition. 

Thymos or Thumos is the universal human drive for recognition, dignity, and respect. It motivates acts of great courage and leadership but can also lead to targeted violence when unmet or distorted (not feeling valued). Francis Fukuyama described Thymos as Greek word usually translated into English as “spiritedness,” which Plato first coined. German psychiatrist Karl Bonhoeffer (1868-1948) expanded on Carl Wernicke’s seminal work on overvalued ideas, describing how certain individuals exhibit a pathological amour propre—a deeply distorted self-regard. Bonhoeffer observed that those with overvalued ideas are hyper-sensitive to perceived slights, interpreting ordinary setbacks as profound personal insults. French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau described amour propre as a "malign concern to stand above others, delighting in their despite," an insight echoed in modern threat assessment.

3) Archetypes (Victim, Warrior, Avenger, Soldier, Martyr, Hero)

Fairy tales, movies, religions, and all cultures have universal archetypes. Archetypes are patterns of human behavior first described by Carl Jung. Archetypes (Victim, Warrior, Soldier, Martyr, Avenger, Outlaw, Savior) are universal, innate and resonate deeply to shape narratives like oppression, vengeance, grievance and moral duty that can drive extreme actions.

The above fusion of interactions (ARCHE Triad ©) crystallizes into a binary, simplistic and absolute decision to attack, often with a grievance or moral outrage.

Examples:

Lee Harvey Oswald (JFK assassin): Desire for Heroic recognition within his Marxist-Lenninist subculture

Anders Breivik (Norwegian terrorist): Desire for being a Warrior with Heroic recognition in his right wing subculture

Columbine Shooters: Desire for recognition as Avengers and Martyrs in their school

Adam Lanza: Desire for recognition as a Heroic figure in the mass shooter subculture

9/11 attacks: Desire for recognition as Martyrs in a radicalized religious subculture.

How extremists connect the cognitive dots.

How does a flipbook trick us into seeing cartoon stick figures that appear to move?

In 1912 Max Wertheimer introduced the term phi phenomenon (perception of apparent movement). He described the optical illusion of apparent movements when two optical stimuli are presented with alternating high frequency. This explains how cartoons trick the mind— sequential drawings in animation cells are displayed in rapid sequence, giving them life.

The internet does much the same with beliefs called internet cognitive isoforms- a piece of information learned online that is used to connect the “cognitive dots.” Social media, like an optical illusion, allows for the rapid intake of information which, through cognitive short cuts, saves brain energy. New beliefs that fit in with our prior identity, religion or culture are quickly accepted by our brains as true, because it feels normal and natural to us. Others see them as odd, weird or scary.

On social media, the more “views” or “likes” (thumbs ups, hearts) that a social media post receives, the more it is believed—even if it is wrong, allowing the growth and nurturance of internet cognitive isoforms. If tens of thousands of people agree that COVID-19 vaccination is dangerous, how could that be wrong? And yet it is. The effect is especially strong if shared by someone the user knows and respects – or thinks they know, such as a celebrity. This cognitive illusion can be weaponized during political movements or terrorist recruitment efforts. Treading on moral codes becomes a matter worth fighting for and even dying for, the cognitive fuel for individuals that harbor extreme overvalued beliefs.

School shooters are often seduced by radical online depraved subcultures. Shooters are not mentally ill (legally speaking), they are radicalized. Kids at all grade levels must learn about and confront these ideologies.

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