| This study sought to distinguish psychological determinants that influence opinions regarding domestic and transnational terrorists and terror attacks. This study also addressed putative relationships between patriotism, religiosity, and dissociative experiences. Several relationships between self-identified political affiliations, strength of political beliefs, and strength of religious faith were found to predict beliefs surrounding terrorist events, such as whether the U.S. would be involved in any future attacks and if such attacks would be either religious or political in nature. Findings indicated that the more liberal a person's self-identification, the more likely he or she was to believe that the U.S. will be involved in an attack. Conservative self-identification related positively to the idea that a given attack would be religious in nature. As one's self-identified strength of political beliefs increased, so did the belief that terror attacks are religious in nature. As the strength of political beliefs decreased, the belief that terror attacks are of a political nature increased. As one's strength of religious faith increased, the belief that terror attacks are religious in nature decreased. Relationships were also discovered regarding Nationalism and Internationalism and their influence on how one perceived terrorism. Findings indicated that Nationalism was a negative predictor of the belief that terror attacks are derived from conspiracy. Also, Internationalism was a negative predictor of the belief that the U.S. would be involved in another terror attack. Finally, significant relationships were discovered between the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) (Carlson & Putnam, 1986) and Patriotism, Nationalism and Internationalism (Kosterman & Feshbach, 1989). Findings indicated that increased scores on the DES promote Patriotism and limited Nationalism and Internationalism. Implications of the results as well as limitations and suggestions for future study are also discussed. |
