The bombing of various US-institutions in Germany attempted by a small group of Islamistic terrorists calling themselves the Islamic Dschihad in September 2007 was widely reported in all German mass media channels. This paper is an effort to analyze how reports emotionally framed by fear-appeals and appeals to uncertainty lead to heuristic and shallow information processing on the part of the readers, who consequently overestimate the likelihood of a terrorist attack and therefore become more likely to approve of action recommendations such as precautionary policy changes. By applying the Social Amplification/Attenuation of Representations Framework (Kasperson, 1988, 1992) on the reports of three of the largest German newspapers, Die Zeit, Die Welt and Spiegel, it is illustrated how the secondary consequences of a risk event serve as amplifiers of the original risk and activate representations of similar events within readers.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical groundwork
2.1. The Social Amplification / Attenuation of Representations Framework
2.2. Social Constructivism, Social Representations Theory
2.3. Emotion, Information Processing and Persuasion
2.4. Risk Communication and Risk Estimation
3. SARF analysis of the German reaction to the planned 2007 terrorist attack
3.1. Data sources
3.2. Background information on the Sauerland-group
3.3. Ripple effects
3.3.1. a) Directly affected
3.3.2. b) National politics
3.3.3. c) Citizenry
3.3.4. d) International Relations
3.4. Fear appeals, Uncertainty, Heuristic Activation
3.5. Interpretation
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how mass media coverage, specifically using fear appeals and uncertainty framing, influences public perception and risk estimates regarding terrorist attacks. It explores how these psychological mechanisms can lead individuals to overestimate the probability of an attack and, consequently, support security policies that may constrain personal freedoms in a democratic society.
- Psychological effects of fear appeals on risk perception and decision-making.
- Application of the Social Amplification of Representations Framework (SARF).
- The influence of media coverage on mental models of complex risks like terrorism.
- Empirical analysis of German media reporting on the 2007 Sauerland-group case.
- The tension between national security policies and individual civil liberties.
Excerpt from the Book
Interpretation
First, it has to be noted that considering that in fact there had not been any direct consequences of the risk event in terms of physical impact, as the bomb attack was successfully prevented, the secondary ripple effects began remarkably quickly. Apart from one policeman slightly harmed in line of duty, no person or object was physically damaged. The only direct negative consequences of the risk event apart from the injured policeman was a certain disturbance among the inhabitants of Oberschledorn when they realized terrorists had been living among them without them noticing. Still, already the first day of news coverage entails information on extensive policy changes suggested by various political acteurs. It is repeatedly stressed that Germany was definitely a target of international terrorism and that more extreme measures were necessary for protection. The fact that the attack was successfully prevented is either indicatively ignored or, just as interestingly, it is mentioned within the same context, creating confusion and uncertainty about the factual extent of the threat. Should the reader be worried about Germany being a prime terrorist target? Or should he be relieved that Germany obviously has adequate means of protection? Under these circumstances, the reader consequently has to make a judgement under uncertainty, leading to the interpretational and processing biases described before. As the ripple effects stretch out and move away from the actual center of the issue (the prevented attack itself) they widen the interpretative realm of the representation „terrorism attack and its consequences“ to such an extent that the impression of all-encompassing threat is formed. When it comes to light that even the USA felt threatened by the Sauerland-group and cooperated closely with German intelligence services, the ripple effects finally reach the level of international relations. Repeatedly, the incident is placed within the concept of a global „war on terrorism“, possibly activating all associations connected with the term and leading to heuristic informational processing and judgement.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research context, establishing the link between communication, media coverage, and the psychological processing of terrorism-related risks.
2. Theoretical groundwork: This section presents the theoretical foundations, including the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF), Social Constructivism, and theories on emotion and information processing.
3. SARF analysis of the German reaction to the planned 2007 terrorist attack: This empirical chapter applies the SARF model to analyze media reporting and political reactions following the discovery of the Sauerland-group, detailing fear appeals and ripple effects.
4. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes how sensationalized media coverage can lead to heuristic information processing and discusses the implications for a well-informed citizenry and political decision-making.
Keywords
Terrorism, Risk Psychology, Mass Media, Social Amplification of Risk Framework, SARF, Fear Appeals, Information Processing, Heuristic Activation, Uncertainty, Security Policy, Sauerland-group, Media Influence, Public Perception, Mental Models, Risk Communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how mass media coverage influences the public's perception and risk estimates regarding terrorist attacks through the use of fear appeals and uncertainty framing.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The key themes include risk psychology, communication theory, the impact of media on public perception, the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF), and the political consequences of terrorism.
What is the main research goal?
The goal is to analyze whether emotional media reporting leads individuals to overestimate the probability of terrorist threats and consequently support restrictive security policies.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses the Social Amplification of Representations Framework (SARF) to conduct an empirical discourse analysis of newspaper articles published after the 2007 Sauerland-group incident.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical basis of risk perception, the analysis of media articles regarding the Sauerland-group, the categorization of fear and uncertainty appeals, and their impact on societal and political reactions.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Terrorism, Risk Psychology, Media Influence, SARF, Fear Appeals, Heuristic Processing, and Risk Estimation.
How did the Sauerland-group case serve as a model for this study?
The 2007 case provided a concrete example of a "prevented" risk event, allowing the author to study how media framing can still generate significant ripple effects and policy shifts despite the lack of actual physical damage.
Why is the "Social Amplification of Risk Framework" relevant here?
The framework is used to explain why the public and experts often disagree on risk levels and how secondary events (like news reports) can amplify a risk beyond its statistical probability.
- Quote paper
- Anna-Sophia Fritsch (Author), 2011, Public Perception of Terrorism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/192003
