The Individual Level of Analysis
1. Assertion of autonomy. Starting with the individual level, it may be
significant that suicide bombers for the most part are rather young males between the
ages of 18 and 271
. This fact is significant for a number of reasons. First, it is the age
when testosterone soars. Studies (Bernhardt, 1997) significantly linked testosterone
production to dominance orientation in males. When the desire to dominate is satisfied,
high testosterone is not related to a rise in aggressiveness, however when such desire is
frustrated it results in increased likelihood of aggressive response (against oneself or