How Terrorism Shapes Public Attitudes

This chapter reviews the fast-growing literature on how terrorism shapes public attitudes, with a focus on civil liberties, identity, and attitudes toward outgroups. It conceptualizes terrorism as a psychological shock that heightens perceived threat, triggers emotional responses, and affects subjective well-being, thereby influencing political attitudes and behavior. Drawing on evidence from economics, political science, and psychology, the chapter documents three robust patterns: increased support for security-oriented policies and restrictions on civil liberties; short-lived rally effects around national and supranational identities; and shifts in immigration attitudes that depend critically on perpetrator identity and attack salience. The chapter also discusses key methodological challenges in identifying causal effects and highlights recent empirical strategies that improve inference.