NCJ Number
218007
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: May-June 2007 Pages: 259-279
Date Published
May 2007
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article presents the concept of terrorism as a complex, dynamic, and cyclical struggle spurred on by perceived public support and the “Theater of Terror” which reinforces the cycle of violence through one-sided and biased media coverage.
Abstract
Two suggestions are presented as steps to reverse the cycle of terrorist attacks and target nation retaliation: (1) a focus on both short and long term motivations of the parties involved, not specific organizations or individuals, and (2) end the “Theater of Terror” on the assumption that the news value of reconciling and peaceful messages are more powerful than the biased, one-sided coverage of repeated terror and anti-terror attacks. The authors contend that the back and forth, pendulum-like model of terrorist attacks and target nation retaliation reinforce psycho-social mechanisms that perpetuate the seemingly non-ending cycle of violence and limit the acceptance of noncombatant courses of action. Populations on both sides are affected by what the authors term the “Theater of Terror” which reinforces the cycle of violence through one-sided and biased media coverage. As a result, the organizations are emboldened and perceive public support for their actions/reactions. References