NCJ Number
209523
Date Published
2005
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes some of the critical resources and research opportunities in the social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) sciences related to terrorism and other national or regional crises.
Abstract
Specifically, this report addresses the knowledge and technologies based in SBE sciences that facilitate predicting future terrorist attacks, preventing such attacks, preparing for an attack, and recovering from a terrorist attack. Predicting the likelihood of future terrorist attacks involves defining terrorism, identifying its root causes, analyzing the nature and magnitude of the terrorist threat, and determining the factors that underlie the formation and maintenance of both domestic and international terrorist groups and networks. Preventing a domestic terrorist attack depends, in part on detecting who threatens the Nation. Behavioral methodology in conjunction with sensor and surveillance technology is being used to anticipate and detect threats during the earliest preincident phases. The social and behavioral sciences are being used to help law enforcement and intelligence agencies adapt to new roles and responsibilities. Preparing for a terrorist attack is aided by SBE models of threat, risk, and vulnerability assessment. SBE models of risk perception and communication are being used to modify emergency responder and public behaviors under conditions of attack, threat, and uncertainty. SBE models of community stress and resilience are being used in the evaluation of emergency preparedness plans. The capacity to recover from a terrorist attack is assisted by SBE models of terrorist attacks and other large-scale disasters that incorporate measures of community strengths and weaknesses. The treatment of acute and chronic stress is informed by research findings on the mechanisms of brain and behavior and how stress and coping reactions are modified by experience and context. Future research in the SBE sciences likely to be relevant to counterterrorism is discussed.