The Psychology of Martyrdom | Jocelyn Bélanger | TEDxNYUAD

What moves people to sacrifice? How much would you be willing to sacrifice for a larger cause? Focusing on his research of radicalization and de-radicalization, Dr. Bélanger explores why people go so far as to sacrifice their lives in what they believe in, and how we can harness those extreme motivational forces in impactful and constructive ways.
Jocelyn Bélanger is a professor of psychology at New York University Abu Dhabi. His current research focuses on the psychology of radicalization and de-radicalization. Specifically, Dr. Bélanger seeks to understand why, and under which circumstances, individuals are willing to sacrifice their lives for a cause and how these motivational forces can be redirected in a constructive direction, paving the way to conciliation, conflict resolution, and harmony in intergroup relations.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@lindsyrichardson2708]

Excellent discussion on extremism and compelling argument to invest more in our youth!

[@PatrickSteil]

This is the psychology of extremist terrorism / murder. It is not the psychology of martyrdom. Martyrdom is believing in something so much that you would be WILLING to die (to be killed, not to kill) to stand up for their beliefs. The problem is we need more “Saints” who would be willing to be martyred! Christianity, when taken seriously, will bring us to an understanding of the Truth of who we are, our purpose and value and our place in the universe. And when someone grows in their love of God over a lifetime their goal should be to love Him so much they would be willing even to be put to death over their beliefs. Many, many of the Saints including most all of Jesus original Disciples were martyred because the had been 100% accepted by God, they knew the Truth and they were willing to die for it.

[@postal83]

This is a very important distinction that I hope more people recognize.

[@ferdinanddclxvi776]

well done

[@williampan29]

what difference is there between someone that takes away his own life vs taking away someone's lives, when neither can proof what they believed in really exists?

[@sanadbenali6993]

3:54 the speaker focused on martyrdom as blowing yourself up, yes you want to understand a terrorists mechanism fine but you are just scratching the surface on this philosophical matter which is not well covered on youtube by philosphy just psych as a relationship personality phenomena back to my point martyrdom where are your stories on firemen and other jobs and what about those who sacrifice a certain combination of life and death fora cause finally career sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice because death is death to the living there is no more to that person it is merciful yet a pursuit of a certain truth with good intentions that leads to a career death can be very painful along with the infinite game theory of getting back up just to study that cause again and find it more truthful and sound and worth slowly dying for is not studied

[@dianerose7631]

It was my first instinct to throw it at the 2 men i hate most