3. The Psychological Effects of Terrorism

Question 1

one of the hallmarks of terrorism is the desire to

Answer 1

instill fear

Question 2

the focus of much of the research on terrorism has been on the

Answer 2

psychological effects of it

Question 3

Terror attacks are designed to elicit a strong

Answer 3

physical, emotional and psychological response

Question 4

A general four-phase model of response to terrorism was proposed by Benedek, Ursano and Holloway (2005) and is outlined in the table below:

Answer 4

Immediate aftermath

1 week – several months

Several months

Months - years

Question 5

Immediate aftermath

Answer 5

Strong emotional reactions such as disbelief, numbness, fear, and confusion.

Question 6

1 week – several months

Answer 6

Involves active efforts to adapt to the new environment. Intrusive and hyperarousal symptoms may be present, along with somatic symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. People may also experience anger, irritability and social withdrawal.

Question 7

Several months

Answer 7

Emergence of disappointment and resentment as it becomes evident that aid and restoration is unlikely to lead to complete return to pre-attack status.

Question 8

Months - years

Answer 8

A reconstruction phase typified by physical and emotional re-building, resumption of old roles, re-establishing social connections.

Question 9

Summers & Winefield, 2009) found that _____ of the teenagers sampled reported elevated anxiety about war and terrorism

Answer 9

90%

Question 10

(Aly & Green, 2010) examined terrorism-related anxiety in the community found that

Answer 10

it went beyond simply feeling worried that a terrorist attack would occur

Question 11

The four main themes that generated terrorism-related anxiety amongst the sample in (Aly & Green, 2010).

Answer 11

Anxiety relating to being physically harmed;

Political fear, which relates to anxiety about the social consequences that communal fear generates by targeting and demonising one element within society;

Fear of losing civil liberties;,

A sense of insecurity brought about by a feeling of reduced safety (Aly & Green, 2010).

Question 12

There is some evidence to suggest that rates of depression are slightly elevated after

Answer 12

a terrorist attack

Question 13

Galea et al. (2002) reported an increase in depression from ______ in New York in the two months after September 11

Answer 13

6.6% to 9.7%

Question 14

Deschepper et al. (2018) found a positive association between ________ in a sample of participants from Belgium in the week following the March 2016 bombings that occurred around Brussels.

Answer 14

perceived threat and depressive symptoms

Question 15

The risk of developing depression in response to terrorism is increased by

Answer 15

female gender, low social support, the experience of other stressors, and co-morbidity with another psychological disorder (e.g., PTSD, panic)

Question 16

evidence suggests that there is an increase in substance use amongst people who are

Answer 16

victims of terrorism

Question 17

Vlahov, Galea, Ahern, Resnick, and Kilpatrick (2004) found that residents of New York increased their use of _______ in the 6 months after the September 11 attacks

Answer 17

alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana

Question 18

from ______ were reported in New York residents post September 11 (

Answer 18

11.2-20%

Question 19

_______ of Spanish people reported PTSD post 2004 Madrid train bombing

Answer 19

2.3%

Question 20

Rudenstein and Calea (2015) recommend the following three-phase approach to intervention in response to terrorism:

Answer 20

1. Normalisation of heightened fear and anxiety within the first few days of the terrorist event. No need for formal intervention at this point as most symptoms will resolve on their own.
2. Screening for high-risk individuals, accompanied by ongoing normalisation and information provision. This will involve consideration of the variables that increase the risk of developing PTSD, ASD, anxiety, depression and problematic substance use.
3. Referral of symptomatic individuals who meet clinical indicators of disorder to professional services.

Question 21

Bonanno, Galea, Bucciarelli, and Vlahov (2006) found that ______ of a sample of almost 3,000 adults who resided in New York City during 9/11 demonstrated resilience in the ________

Answer 21

65% , 6 months following the attacks

Question 22

Conservation of Resources Theory was developed as a theory to explain

Answer 22

stress reactions and has become one of the leading theories of stress and trauma since it’s development

Question 23

COR maintains that

Answer 23

psychological stress is the result of a real or perceived loss of resources

Question 24

CBT is based on the premise that our cognitions

Answer 24

influence our feelings, which in turn, influences our behaviour

Question 25

Cognitive distortions are exaggerated and often illogical thought patterns and have been consistently associated with

Answer 25

diminished psychological functioning and greater levels of depression and anxiety

Question 26

In the context of terrorism, the CBT approach argues that psychopathology results because

Answer 26

the event challenges our cognitions, resulting in the development of cognitive distortions that, in turn, impact on emotions and behaviours

Question 27

Catastrophising

Answer 27

expecting the worst to happen and expecting that the consequence to be disastrous if it does occur

Question 28

Helplessness

Answer 28

a sense of being powerless that results after repeated failure or exposure to a traumatic event

Question 29

Rumination

Answer 29

rumination is the process of repeatedly thinking about a problem or event. Although not a cognitive distortion in and of itself, greater rumination of distorted thoughts enhances them.

Question 30

A 2016 study by Jenness and colleagues examined PTSD symptoms in a sample of adolescents who were living in the Boston area during the 2013 Marathon bombing. Greater levels of

Answer 30

rumination and catastrophising predicted greater levels of PTSD, but only when exposed to greater media reporting of the attacks.