The Impact of Broadcasting Terrorist Activities on Individuals



The Impact of Broadcasting Terrorist Activities on Individuals

Introduction

Terrorism is a theatre and the terrorist attacks are carefully choreographed to attract the concentration of media. Media responds to these propositions with almost unrestrained eagerness, proving unable to ignore what has been accurately described as an event that is fashioned particularly for their needs (Moghaddam & Marsella, 2004).

There is a mutual benefit relationship between the media and terrorists as it is analyzed that indicates that media provides such methods to terrorist organizations to directly broadcast their messages without interventions of journalism (Horgan, 2007).

Researchers argued on the terrorist attacks; that without media coverage or broadcasting terrorist activities, the impact & blow of the terrorist actions are arguably exhausted, remaining barely confined to the direct victims of attacks rather than approaching a wider target addressees at whom the terrorist violence is truly aimed (Seger, 2009, pp. 256-269).

Obviously, neither it is bereavement that is the sole consequence of terrorist activities; physical disabilities and psychiatric morbidities are found among the many outcomes of armed conflicts. Inhabitants who are not safe the revulsions of terrorist activities, are the most important targets of the dismay of terrorism (Moghaddam & Marsella, 2004).

Certainly, terrorism is an intimidating movement that is first and foremost aimed at inhabitants and latter for the immediate victims and first respondents/recovery teams, with the rationale of preceding an explicit terrorist, political or any other agenda. Desolately, terrorist activities, are now maintaining greater visibility in the media broadcast in almost every expanse of the world (Horgan, 2007).

Discussion

Broadcasting of Terrorist Activities & its psychological impacts

Mental health researchers are investigating the consequences of broadcasting of terrorist activities on the individuals & on the communities. While this paper highlights some of the psychopathological impacts of terrorist activities that are broadcasted and also focuses on the human sufferings and psychiatric morbidity (Seger, 2009, pp. 256-269).

People tend to deal fairly well with the ongoing terrorist activities broadcasting; media coverage often adds destabilizing and threatening factors to the blend. Broadcasting the terrorist activities fosters a widespread conviction that terrorist activities are more common and dangerous than is in reality the case (Horgan, 2007).

Psychologists have also bring into being that powerful broadcasting of terrorist activities by itself have potentially damaging impact with some children and adults that consequently appearing to suffer severe psychological harms due to continuous media exposure of terrorist acts (Seger, 2009, pp. 256-269).

Much has been researched about that cognitive, emotional, behavioral and somatic response that can be anticipated in the immediate and later aftermath of terrorism. The most focused and prevalent psychological impact in victims and non victims is reportedly PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder like hyper alertness, hypertension, anxiety, hyper arousals, and depression and physical disabilities restricts victims and non victims in their appropriate physical and social functioning.

Frequent broadcasting of terrorism is more likely to cause psychological reaction in individuals who are even distant from such activities but are however anxious about being in ...