Irrational Beliefs Inventory among the Convicted Terrorists Believing Extremists Prisoners in Jordan and Coping Strategies

Abstract

This study investigates the reality of irrational beliefs and coping strategies and its relationship with some demographic variables among the convicted terrorist and believing extremist prisoners in Jordan. The sample of the study consists of (337) prisoners, selected using simple random sampling procedures, from Bab-Alhawa, Swaqa, and al-Jewedeh prisons. To collect the data, the instrument of Davis, Eshelman and Mckay, (2000) is used after both validity and reliability, consisting a final version of (50) items. The results of the study show that the level of irrational beliefs is high. There are statistically significant differences due to age, feeling of guilty, need for counseling, job, and qualification, in favor of prisoners who are less than 35 years who don't feel guilty, need counseling, have a previous job, and obtain a general secondary qualification or less. There is no significant, difference due to reason for prison. Discussion is made and answers are delivered to question about the coping strategies to deal with terrorists and extremists in light of counseling psychology perspective qualitatively.