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Reflections on September 11: Lessons From Four Psychological Perspectives
Author(s) -
Lanning Kevin
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
analyses of social issues and public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1530-2415
pISSN - 1529-7489
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-2415.2002.00023.x
Subject(s) - terrorism , resentment , psychodynamics , ambivalence , argument (complex analysis) , civil liberties , personality psychology , altruism (biology) , anger , social psychology , face (sociological concept) , criminology , psychology , personality , political science , sociology , law and economics , law , psychoanalysis , social science , biochemistry , chemistry , politics
Several of the major theoretical perspectives within psychology can contribute to our understanding of the September 11 attacks and their aftermath. An argument derived from the psychodynamic approach suggests that terrorism may be a product of ambivalence rather than anger. From an evolutionary standpoint, the resentment that breeds terrorism, and the altruism that has arisen in its wake, may be seen as two sides of the same coin. The decision theoretic approach suggests that in the attempt to prevent future terrorist attacks, we face a seeming tradeoff between civil rights and civil liberties. Finally, the personality development approach suggests that difficult times can help forge new moral leaders.