Psychological Effects of Terrorism - 1797 Words

The terrorist attacks in London Thursday served as a jarring reminder that in todays world, you never know what you might see when you pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV. Disturbing images of terror can trigger a visceral response no matter how close or far away from home the event happened. Throughout history, every military conflict has involved psychological warfare in one way or another as the enemy sought to break the morale of their opponent. But thanks to advances in technology, the popularity of the Internet, and proliferation of news coverage, the rules of engagement in this type of mental battle have changed. Whether its a massive attack or a single horrific act, the effects of psychological warfare arent limited to the†¦show more content†¦We walk around, psychologically, in a bubble, and that bubble represents our belief system and values, says Figley. Most often we assume incorrectly that other people have the same values and social niceties as we do. When that is violated or challenged, the first response is usually an effort to protect our beliefs and, in other words, to deny that it actually happened. When confronted with proof of terror, such as pictures of atrocities, Figley says there are a few different ways in which people typically react: —Suggest that the perpetrators are not like us in any way, that they are inhumane. —Become fearful in the sense that they feel that they are living in an uncaring and unsafe world because the bar of inhumanity has been lowered even further. —Believe that its only a temporary manifestation that can be explained away or deconstructed by specific things that have taken place, such as if we hadnt done this, then that would not have happened. Its uncomfortable believing that the world is less safe, so we have to imagine or construct a scenario that will allow us to feel more safe again and resist change, says Figley. How to Cope Experts say the key to coping with psychological terror is to find a healthy balance. When people are stressed, there is a temptation to lose touch with reality and to blur the boundary between reality and fantasy, says Haroun. He says the reality might beShow MoreRelatedTerrorism And Its Effects On The World And Society1385 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent definitions of terrorism. Terrorism is mostly associated with murder and killings by a certain religious group. It would mostly target a certain group of people or politics. Terrorism started with radical ideas of a certain party and it would slowly grow into an organization. America is not the only country who had experienced terrorism. There is Northern Ireland, Africa, China, and other countries as well. 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