Materials listed in this chapter examine the psychological and sociological aspects of terrorism. The literature deals with psychological and social characteristics of individual terrorists, the characteristics of terrorist groups and their dynamics. Personal and group attributes of terrorists, as well as their social, educational and ideological milieu are analyzed. The literature looks at the question of mental instability of terrorists. Section B analyzes the growing concern of society with the victim of terrorist acts. Materials in this section cover studies on behavioral patterns of victims and the emotional, psychological and physical stress experienced by survivors of terrorist incidents. The sections also covers studies dealing with the recuperation of victims. [Author Abstract]

This paper presents a cumulative natural study of the ramifications of terrorist attacks in Israel over the period of 1974-1980. During the years 1974-1975, 10 terrorist raids that involved the capture and killing of hostages were launched on Israeli civilian populations. These events will be described in the following pages, in a series of detailed scenarios, as background to the analysis of individual and group responses to the assaults. During the preparation of this paper, four additional terrorist attacks took place in Israel. One of the latter attacks will be discussed in some detail because it illustrates an intervention program with children in the aftermath of the attack. The documentary data of the sequence of events were derived from news reports and from files of social agencies on "victims of hostile actions against the civilian population" (under the law issued in 1971). The study will focus on children's responses to the confrontation with terrorists, highlighting reaction patterns in three critical periods of stress endurance: throughout the event, immediately upon rescue, and in the long-term follow-up. The personal data came from a series of in-depth interviews and clinical observations of survivors and near-miss populations, conducted by the writer over a six-year period. Finally, intervention and preventive programs will be explicated. [Text, p. 294]

The clinical method of inquiry often begins with a close look at a single illustrative case, which we shall do here. By beginning with the experience of a person who has been a victim in a terrorist incident we remind ourselves of the standard by which our analysis, explanation, and plans must be judged. Unfortunately, there are many victims of terrorism to choose from. No experience could be more helpful, though, than that of Gerard Vaders, a mature and sensitive Dutch newspaper editor who was held hostage for twelve days in December of 1975. Vaders's story illustrates the major issues that arise from the hostage situation: the roles open to the victim, stress, coping, and psychological effects. The detail and richness of his account will allow the reader to test out several of the perspectives presented in this book and any that he or she brings from outside. I do not intend to diagnose or psychoanalyze Vaders's behavior. I am grateful to him for the time he took to tell me his story, and for the courage he showed in taking notes while he was a hostage. [Author Abstract]

There is a growing conviction that specific steps must be taken to assess and deal with the unusual plight of the victim of terrorism. Those who are charged with the responsibility for containing and resolving terrorist incidents as well as for protecting the victim are increasingly concerned with the development of a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms at work in the hostage as well as in the captor. Since both are likely to exhibit certain predictable behaviors under the stress of a terrorist incident, an understanding of these behaviors and the mechanisms underlying them is crucial to any program of intervention and controls. In addition, this understanding can be extended to the development of theories and techniques that may be applied by hostages to reduce anxiety and maximize the chances for survival. The present chapter focuses on adaptive behaviors people use to cope with the severe stress of being a hostage during a terrorist incident. The discussion has been extended to include examples from similarly threatening situations requiring many of the same psychological mechanisms. Several examples of defense and coping mechanisms are drawn from information on the severely stressful experiences of prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates. [Author Abstract]

After a terrorist siege has ended, the authorities and survivors survey the damage that has been done. Physicians may describe the bodily damage in terms of physical injuries, but in addition to any direct injuries each participant in a terrorist incident has been exposed to a situation in which many subtle physical changes may have taken place in response to a stressor. These changes may be only temporary or they may have varying degrees of permanence. This chapter will focus on our current understandings of the human stress response. A diverse group of concepts have been developed to explain this response and its relationships to health and disease. Each of these concepts and approaches focuses on an aspect of this universal human phenomenon, which may be useful for understanding and intervening in the experience of victims of terrorism. The discussion is based on a medical perspective that encompasses both physical and psychological reactions. [Author Abstract]