Psychological Theories of Behaviour

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Anders Behring Breivik was a Norwegian extremist and a terrorist who had bombed a government building and then shot and killed a number of youths at a camp. His actions were not impulsive, but instead meticulously planned. For years he fostered feelings of hatred and aggression, particularly after his failed businesses and his involvement with the right wing terror organization whose ideology was on anti-Islam and anti-mulitculturism. Breivik perceived that Muslims were invading Europe and conspiring with politicians to take over Norway. Hence, his decision to destroy the present and future politicians of government. Allport (1920), in his theory of Social Facilitation, fleshes out the impression that the presence of others (the social group) can facilitate certain behaviour (McLeod, 2007).
Albert Bandura (1977), in his social learning theory, indicates that individuals learn violence and aggression through the behavioral marlin (Theory of Development, n.d., p. 52). Breivik was somewhat moralling the ideologies of the terror organization and the actions of any terrorist. He thought that a warfare was needed to eliminate the Muslims from Norway and he practiced what he believed was necessary to set off that war, despite the consequences. Bandura explains that a person’s actions are in part determined by what they perceive the consequences of their action or lack of action will be ("Chapter 8: Social Learning Theories", 2010). In extension to the social learning theory, Breivik’s aggression and actions were instigated by his unfounded or bizarre beliefs that violence is necessary or justified (Davidson, n.d.). This explains why Breivik felt no remorse for his victims or their families. He believed that what he did had to be done.
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