SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE VICTIMOLOGY OF TERRORISM

• NCJ Number: 63421
• Journal: Terrorism Volume: 3 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 81-108
• Author(s): E A FATTAH
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Crane, Russak and Co, Inc
• Sale Source: Crane, Russak and Co, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED IS FOR AN ENTIRE ISSUE.

Annotation

REFLECTIONS ON THE VICTIMS AND VICTIMOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TERRORISM ARE PRESENTED WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ON HOW VICTIMS ARE SELECTED AND ON THE VICTIMS' ROLE IN PREPARING THE TERRORIST INCIDENTS.

Abstract

ALTHOUGH A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ON THE ACTIVITIES OF TERRORISTS, VERY LITTLE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH HAS CONSIDERED THE BEHAVIOR OF VICTIMS OF TERRORISM OR THE POSTVICTIMIZATION PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITION OF VICTIMS. DESPITE THE DEARTH OF SUBSTANTIATED FINDINGS, EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT TERRORISTS' VICTIMS ARE NOT RANDOMLY CHOSEN BUT ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED. CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ASSUMES THAT THE BELFAST ASSASSINATIONS ARE RANDOM SECTARIAN KILLINGS, BUT AVAILABLE INDICATIONS DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION. RATHER, CLOSE SCRUTINY REVEALS THAT NEARLY HALF OF THESE KILLINGS ARE PLANNED EXECUTIONS OF SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. SELECTION CRITERIA DEPEND UPON THE NATURE OF THE TERRORISM, WHETHER IT IS MOTIVATED BY RACIAL, ECONOMIC, OR SECTARIAN FACTORS. WHILE STUDYING THE ORGANIZATIONAL VICTIMS IN MASS CIVIL DISORDERS, RESEARCHERS FOUND A SOPHISTICATED PATTERN OF TARGET SELECTION DICTATED BY CITIZENS' PERCEPTION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS. THE FEW STUDIES WHICH EXAMINED VICTIMS DETERMINED THAT THE BELFAST, IRELAND, VICTIMS USUALLY HAD FORMS OF BEHAVIOR WHICH BROUGHT THEM TO THE ATTENTION OF THEIR ASSASSINS. SUCH BEHAVIOR INCLUDED LIVING IN COMMUNITIES OF THE OPPOSING SECT OR WORKING IN CONSPICUOUS JOBS. HOWEVER, TERRORISTS MAY ALSO BE PERSONALLY INDIFFERENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL VICTIM WHO IS ONLY BEING USED IN THE TERRORIST'S PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC FEAR. THE SHEER MENACE AND APPARENT COURAGE OF THE TERRORIST MAY CAUSE SOME VICTIMS TO REALIGN THEIR FEELINGS TOWARDS THE INDIVIDUAL TERRORIST AND DEVELOP AN IRRATIONAL AFFECTION FOR THEIR CAPTOR. THIS 'STOCKHOLM SYNDROME' APPARENTLY RESULTS FROM THE INTENSITY OF A HOSTAGE SITUATION, THE DEPENDENCE OF THE HOSTAGE ON THE CAPTOR, AND THE DISTANCE OF THE HOSTAGE PSYCHOLOGICALLY FROM OUTSIDE AUTHORITY. VICTIMS' RESPONSES UNDER STRESS MAY BE THE PRODUCT OF EXTREME DESPAIR AND ANXIETY WHICH MAY CONTINUE LONG AFTER THE ACTUAL TERRORIST ASSAULT. SOME VICTIMS MAY REQUIRE PSYCHIATRIC THERAPY BECAUSE OF THEIR LOSS OF PRIDE AND DIGNITY. REFERENCES AND SOURCE MATERIAL ARE CITED. (TWK)