How does analyzing violent material affect terrorism researchers?

Understanding How to Protect Counterterrorism Researchers

So what?

In their work to understand the terrorist threat, researchers are exposed to the propaganda, ideologies, and psychologies of the malign actors who seek to cause harm. Previous research has acknowledged the trauma that can stem from researching terrorist material, but until now, there has been no systematic study on the forms of trauma terrorism researchers are exposed to, how trauma manifests, and its short- and long-term consequences for the workforce.

Project Summary 

This project seeks to identify the types of psychological trauma that terrorism researchers experience and determine how widespread trauma is among the workforce. It also seeks to identify factors that may explain the impact of trauma on performance and retention.

Purpose/Objectives 

This project seeks to create a model of the psychosocial hazards of terrorism research. It also aims to model and propose risk factors for psychosocial trauma and the impact it has on critical workforce factors such as performance and retention. Finally, this study seeks to identify opportunities to build resilience at the individual and organizational level.

Method 

This study builds student development by utilizing Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (CTSS) interns who will summarize extant literature and conduct an exhaustive review of job applications for terrorism researchers, identifying knowledge, skills, and abilities. The interns will be trained by the PIs in open-source data collecting.

The research team will also collaborate with partner institutions to observe and survey nearly 100 terrorism researchers and conduct in-depth interviews with more than 35 individuals.

The research team will also use experience sampling methodology (ESM) to collect data on a convenience sample of terrorism researchers from independent research operations, as well as large research centers.

Outputs and Impact 

• Create the first empirical model of the psychological occupational hazards of terrorism research.
• Create a model and propositions regarding factors and cognitive processes leading to moral trauma and the impacts this has on critical workforce factors.
• Identify critical resilience intervention points at the individual and environmental level.

	Matthew Crayne, Ph.D. SUNY University at Albany Assistant Professor Massry Center for Business Expertise: Behavioral dynamics of leadership
	Neil Shortland, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts Lowell Associate Professor School of Criminology and Justice Studies Expertise: Terrorism and security, malevolent creativity and innovation, decision-making

Publications

• Vicarious Trauma via the Observation of Extremist Atrocities: A Rapid Evidence Assessment