Behavioral scientists have been studying the psychological effects of terrorism intensely since the attacks of September 11, 2001, and good data is emerging as to the immediate and longer-term effects of terrorism. However, in many of these cases, psychological impact is measured following a discrete attack or event, which is then thought to elicit a specific type of reaction (e.g., anxiety or fear). While this body of research provides a framework for beginning to understand the impact of discrete terrorist attacks, questions remain as to the psychological impact of ongoing threat. Following on this, and given how terrorism has altered the political and social landscape in the United States and globally, some have also begun to question how psychological reactions (such as fear and anger) impact political process, and whether such reactions can be manipulated for political purpose.
The fact is that fear, or the anticipation of future terrorism, is a primary psychological weapon underlying acts of terrorism. This anticipatory fear, or worry, can itself have serious effects on a variety of domains including political beliefs and support for certain governmental policies, making decisions about where to live and work, whether to travel into certain environments for any reason and how people generally engage in activities of daily living. However, there is also considerable heterogeneity in people’s emotional responses to terrorism and terrorism threats. Understanding the impact of these emotional processes on individuals and societies can be crucially important in evaluating terrorism threats and determine who warnings should be constructed and disseminated.