Changes in attitudes towards war and violence after September 11, 2001

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Attitude Change
• Societal Events

Background:

• The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks represented a significant societal trauma.
• Understanding the psychological impact of large-scale events on public attitudes is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of the September 11 attacks on attitudes toward war and violence.
• To examine changes in aggression-related attitudes following the attacks.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted: a three-wave between-subjects analysis and a two-wave within-subjects study.
• Participants' attitudes toward war, penal code violence (PCV), and aggression were measured at different time points before and after the attacks.

Main Results:

• Attitudes toward war became more positive post-September 11 and remained elevated for over a year.
• Self-reported physical aggression increased after the attacks.
• Attitudes toward PCV initially became more positive but decreased over time, with a notable gender difference observed in the second study.

Conclusions:

• Large-scale traumatic events can significantly alter attitudes, particularly those directly relevant to the event.
• The impact on attitudes can be sustained over time, but may vary depending on the specific attitude and demographic factors.