Psychologist Talks About the Triggers of Home Grown Terrorist

Four men from Georgia in their 60's and 70's now have to answer to the law about a plot to kill

Government workers, politicians, business leaders and even members of the media in a quest to "Save the Country".

Morristown Psychologist Dr. Steven Tobias says the rapid changes in Society with regard to technology and political world view can certainly trigger anxiety and desperate measures. Tobias says "when people have that loss of control it increases their anxiety. Sometimes that anxiety can turn to anger. You know, you're looking for somebody to blame. You're looking for the bad guy. You're looking for what you can do to regain control."

Tobias believes the increase of these fringe groups or militia movements can be attributed to a loss of a sense of community. He says people need to feel like they belong because we are social creatures. He says "I think that the disenfranchisement is about not feeling connected, not feeling you have a voice and so having at least a sense of community where you do feel heard and included really is what's going to ultimately be most helpful."

He also says we need to learn to accept the things we can not control and let it go.

The four men were arrested this week after allegedly telling an FBI informant about their plans to kill government employees, politicians, business leaders and members of the media with rifles, explosives and the toxin ricin. The men were said to be a part of a militia group that called themselves "the covert group" and met nearly every day at a local restaurant discussing their plans to "make the country right again". One of the men was allegedly growing castor bean plants along his driveway to help make the deadly ricin.