Citation

Wolf Y, Frankel O. Aggress. Violent Behav. 2007; 12(3): 259-279.

Affiliation

Bar-Ilan University, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.avb.2006.10.005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Based on a literature review, a conception of terrorism as a complex and dynamic duel between terror organizations and their target nations is suggested. As derived from a pendulum-like model, it is contended that repeated attacks and counter attacks reinforce psycho-sociological mechanisms which extinguish willingness to accept noncombatant courses of action. Two suggestions are raised as a preliminary step deliberated to inverse the deleterious prospect: (a) focus on motivation (short term and long term), not organizations and personae. (b) Facilitate an educated inverse of the effect of the Theater of Terror, based on the assumption that the news value of reconciling and peaceful messages is increasing as a function of the increased severity of the repeated terror and anti-terror attacks.