Examining Terrorist Pre-Incident Affirmation Behaviors

• In Event: Terrorism

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine terrorist precursor activities in an effort to identify patterns of behavior that affirm an offender’s commitment to violence. This will involve the application of framing and identity theories to identify what type of pre-incident behaviors serve to further radicalize individuals and strengthen their involvement, pushing them steadily toward violence. The study will also shed light on variations in the activities and road to violence taken by offenders of differing ideologies, group sizes, and attack types. Data on precursor behaviors will come from the American Terrorism Study’s Sequencing project, which identifies and details specific behaviors of failed, foiled, or completed incidents of terrorist violence. The findings will be useful in helping to formulate law enforcement interdiction policies based on the planning process, as well as identification of the level of radicalization and commitment to violence of an offender.

Authors

• Katie Ratcliff, University of Arkansas, Terrorism Research Center in Fulbright College

• Christopher A. Shields, University of Arkansas