Sympathy for Terrorists: The Moderating Role of American Identity

• In Event: Perception, Attitudes, and Identities Surrounding Extremism

Abstract

Since 9/11, a number of homeland security policies have been proposed/enacted, many of which are harmful to Muslims and immigrants. Previous research has found that emotional responses to the threat of terrorism and the endorsement of anti-Muslim stereotypes predict support for harsh security measures. Building on this literature and incorporating insights from the empathetic identification theory of punitiveness, we examine the ways in which the specific emotional response of sympathy for terrorists influences policy support. Using data from a national survey experiment (n = 700), we identify (1) who (by socially constructed images of offenders, social beliefs, and group identities) feels sympathy for terrorists, (2) how sympathy varies by type of terrorist (foreign or U.S. citizen), and (3) the role of sympathy in predicting support for harsh security policies. We find that a sizable proportion of the sample(30%) reports sympathy for terrorists, and feelings of sympathy vary by type of terrorist and extent of respondents’ identification as American, with those more strongly identifying as American showing more sympathy for American terrorists. Sympathy towards terrorism, in turn, is associated with decreased support for harsh counterterrorism policies such as using torture and restricting immigration, net of other emotional responses to terrorism and anti-Muslim sentiment.

Authors

• Murat Haner, Arizona State University

• Melissa M. Sloan, University of South Florida

• Justin T. Pickett, University at Albany, SUNY

• Francis T. Cullen, University of Cincinnati