Terrorism’s causal effects resist separation from other social phenomena

Evidence

It is difficult to separate the effects of terrorism from the effects of other social phenomena to which the public responds. It is somewhat easier to analyze the reactions of victims, especially former hostages. Yet even here, analysts are hard pressed to specify what it is about terrorism that accounts for its effects, or how much the strength of reaction lies in the predispositions of the victim or target audience. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4085

Categorization

• QUESTION: Suggests investigating the literature on audience reactions and media framing effects of terrorist acts.
• XREF: connects to: Civil war and terror are causally heterogeneous across regimes, defying single theories — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 789; Civil war and terror are causally heterogeneous, not unitary phenomena — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 789