Reacting to the Threat of Terrorism: Behavioral Strategies to Reduce Victimization

• In Event: Mapping and Responding to Terrorism and Political Violence

Abstract

Based on a 2018 national opt-in internet survey (n = 1,000), the current study seeks to assess the extent to which the American public employs strategies to avoid the perceived threat of victimization by terrorism. The respondents were surveyed both on proactive behaviors taken to address the fear of victimization (e.g., purchase a gun, vote for a particular political party) and on avoidance behaviors regarding activities they were less willing to do in response to terrorism (e.g., go into a skyscraper, travel overseas). Use of specific behavioral strategies varied from under 10% to over 30%. The most important sources of adopting both kinds of behavior strategies were emotional vulnerability (i.e., depression) and holding anti-Muslim attitudes. The theoretical and policy implications of the findings are examined.

Authors

• Murat Haner, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

• Melissa Sloan, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

• Francis Cullen, University of Cincinnati

• Cheryl Lero Jonson, Xavier University

• Teresa C. Kulig, University of Nebraska at Omaha