The Status Insulation Effect: Perceptions of Personal Safety in Response Lone Wolf Terrorism

• In Event: 3481 - Section on Social Psychology Refereed Roundtables (cosponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 04. Fear and Social Status

Abstract

We examine whether social statuses have an insulation effect on individuals whereby those possessing positively valued social statuses are less likely to experience feelings of decreased personal safety in light of lone wolf terrorist attacks. We also explore whether statuses affect the likelihood that individuals will change their behavior in response to lone wolf terror attacks. We analyze a national public opinion survey of adults conducted in 2016 (N = 1730). The results show that females, racial and ethnic populations, those with lower household incomes, and individuals who have completed less formal education are impacted more by lone wolf terrorism. Additional analysis shows that individuals who are married and those who consider themselves to be politically conservative are impacted by potential lone wolf terrorist events more than their counterparts. The results of these analysis show support for a status insulation effect.

Authors

• Tony Love, University of Kentucky

• Bryce Hannibal, Texas A&M University

• Jennifer L. Lê, Bellevue College

• Kent E. Portney, Texas A&M University