Psychology of Terrorism

Psychology of Terrorism Bruce Bongar, et al., Editors OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PSYCHOLOGY OF TERRORISM This page intentionally left blank Psychology of Terrorism EDITED BY Bruce Bongar Lisa M. Brown Larry E. Beutler James N. Breckenridge Philip G. Zimbardo 1 2007 3 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright Ó 2007 by Oxford University Press Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publicaton Data Psychology of terrorism / edited by Bruce Bongar ...[et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN–13 978–0–19–517249–2 ISBN 0–19–517249–3 1. Terrorism—Psychological aspects. 2. Disasters—Psychological aspects. 3. Victims of terrorism—Mental health. I. Bongar, Bruce Michael. [DNLM: 1. Terrorism—psychology. 2. Stress, Psychological —therapy. 3. Survivors— psychology. WA 295 P9743 2006] RC569.5.T47P83 2006 363.32019—dc22 2005034001 987654321 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper This book is dedicated to all those who fight terrorism, to all those who strive to prevent terrorism, and to all those whose lives have been irreparably scarred by terrorism. This page intentionally left blank Foreword How do I answer the preschooler who asks, ‘‘Why emotional focus for Western society. During the does that man want to kill us?’’ during a nightly following years we have had to confront the horror news broadcast. Why do wealthy suburbanites beg of significant civilian casualties, live with uncer- their primary care physicians to write prescriptions tainty and fear compounded by stumbling and in- for Cipro (ciprofloxacin) when no outbreak of an- trusive efforts by government to protect us, all the thrax has ever occurred within hundreds of miles? while attempting to comprehend the willingness How do we provide explanations of dispositional of other people from different cultures to gladly die perceived risk, negativity bias, attributional error, in an effort to kill as many of us as possible. and social amplification to the nightly news re- As behavioral scientists and mental health porter who wants psychological sound bites? Not practitioners, the years since 9/11 have forced us to long ago few of us would have dreamed that we contemplate a range questions long overlooked by would face such questions. many of our colleagues. Should we regard those What happens to people, both as individuals who organize and perpetrate acts of terror as crim- and members of social groups, when we suddenly inals or revolutionaries; antisocial personalities or find ourselves forced to question our fundamental religious ideologues; psychopaths or self-sacrificing assumptions about our basic safety, security, and advocates of radical social change; or all of the well-being? What happens when that challenge above? What treatment strategies will prove most appears suddenly in the form of massive destruc- effective for helping people who experience post tion and loss of life from unanticipated sources traumatic stress, chronic reactive anxiety, burnout, and directions, accompanied by continuing threats and related physical symptoms? Does the develop- from others we do not know and whose motives ment of a complex fluctuating color coded threat we cannot comprehend? Today, we know the an- level system, and announcement that future attacks swer: anxiety, fear, dread, and terror. will almost certainly occur. facilitate or hinder Terrorism in human history dates back at least coping? Do existing treatment models actually work to biblical times, although September 11, 2001, or must we abandon conventional ideas for new brought the full psychological and societal impact intervention paradigms? What can we do to pro- of massively destructive terrorist acts into sharp mote resilience in coping with uncertain risk, viii Foreword chronic threat of future attacks, and inconsistent of historical events, as well as domestic terrorism messages from government authorities? Traditional such as the threats posed by the ‘‘Unabomber,’’ education and training of mental health profes- Oklahoma City Bombing, and postal anthrax sionals and behaviorally scientists has done little to incidents. prepare us for addressing these critical questions. As we prepare ourselves and our students to Bongar and his talented colleagues offer us serve the contemporary needs of society, the con- significant assistance in overcoming the gaps in our tents of this volume provide an incredibly valuable training. They have compiled a broad and deep and vital resource. The work of these contributors array of exceptionally useful information aimed at will enable our profession to more readily step for- helping readers both to understand the psychology ward and engage in research and clinical endeavors of the terrorist and the best scientifically grounded aimed at reducing both terrorist threats and the ac- remedies for the terrorized. These experts from companying psychological consequences. Although academic, medical, military, and clinical settings I rue the need for this excellent resource, I remain cover the full range of theoretical, clinical, social grateful for it. psychological, work site, developmental, and his- Gerald P. Koocher torical contexts. The authors also look well Boston beyond the scope of 9/11, addressing a wide range March 23, 2006 Acknowledgments I, along with millions of others who watched New York City was always there in his soul). Before the events of September 11, 2001, unfold, felt my trip, I was honored to be invited as a special- the immediate shocking impact of the terrorist ist in clinical emergencies and crises to come to attacks—all the more so as my son frequently Washington, D.C. to discuss disaster mental health traveled on that fateful flight from Boston to San and its role with regard to 9/11 with Dr. Bernadine Francisco and could have easily been on the plane Healy, the head of the American Red Cross. After that terrible day. As a clinical psychologist, I im- spending several days in New York City, and being mediately volunteered my services to the American astonished at the incredible resilience of this re- Red Cross (ARC). While awaiting an assignment to markable city and its people, I was able to meet at go to Manhattan, I completed the required ARC some length with Dr. Healey and her senior aid at Disaster Mental Health Level 1 training to work at a ARC headquarters. In this meeting, I emphasized disaster site. As both a scientist and a practitioner, I the critical role of the American Psychological As- was astonished to learn that scientifically validated sociation, through its Disaster Response Network methods were not being used for training, and the (DRN), and the efforts of Dr. Russell Newman and need to provide responders, victims proximally and senior DRN staff who served as vital resources that remotely affected with the best possible psycholo- stood ready to work closely with the ARC and its gical tools to deal with this horror became evident then head of disaster mental health, Dr. John and provided a challenge for me. Clizbe. While awaiting any available opening for an Most importantly, I had a remarkable evening ARC assignment to go back to New York City, I with the individual whom I consider to be the took it upon myself immediately to go to New York, foremost authority on suicide terror in the world, and without identifying myself in any way, in- Professor Ariel Merari. It was through this meeting formally assessed the situation as best I could. An at the Willard Hotel that I realized how little I and insight soon emerged. These people had attacked other interested mental health professionals really not just the United States of America, but my Dad’s knew about terrorism and what this heinous attack ‘‘home.’’ For my father, Moses Bongar, was a ‘‘true America would entail in the years to come. That New Yorker’’ (and though he traveled far and wide, evening with Ariel changed my life. For Professor x Acknowledgments Merari shared with me his vast experience and that inevitable psychological trauma that is inherent in of his Israeli colleagues who have waged battle any human-created mass casualty event. against this ghastly sort of event since the founding Thanks to Joan and to her dedicated colleagues of the State of Israel. He quickly convinced me that and staff at OUP for guidance and assistance in America would soon find itself deluged with a preparing this massive missive. It is essential to panoply of so-called terrorism experts—all of acknowledge the magnificent role that OUP’s Jo- whom would be more than willing to provide their seph Zito, Jennifer Rappaport, Mallory Jensen, and learned opinions (often for a substantial fee). Un- Anne Enenbach played in making this book a fortunately, as I had already learned decades ago, reality. one good scientific study is worth a thousand I would be remiss in not acknowledging the ‘‘learned opinions.’’ Thus, Professor Merari inspired critical additional financial support for the con- me to coordinate the first ever American-based ference that was solicited by President Allen Calvin international conference on the psychology of ter- of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology and, rorism. Science, rather than ‘‘opinion,’’ would be in particular, wish to thank Racky Newman and her the heart and soul of this endeavor.

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