Anticipated regret, terrorist behaviour & the presentation of the outcomes of attacks in the mainstream media and in terrorist group publications

Abstract

Using the same executive function that allows him to plan a terrorist attack, the terrorist can consider the possibility that the outcomes of the attack will be imperfect in some way and that he will regret not having chosen a different type of attack or a different target. He can anticipate regret. In terrorism studies, a lot has been written about the relationship between the volume of media coverage accorded to terrorist attacks and incidences of terrorism. Regret theory, which is a framework for understanding how anticipated feelings of regret can influence the decision-making process, directs our attention beyond the debate over the volume of coverage in a general sense to the presentation of the outcomes of different terrorist actions. Our analysis generates suggestions for the direction that researchers might take in developing our understanding of the mechanisms by which mainstream media reporting and terrorist group publications shape terrorists' choices. • Anticipated regret shapes the decision-making process • The prospective terrorist may anticipate the regret he will feel if his terrorist actions are ignored by the mainstream media or online terrorist group publications and social networks • The implications for terrorist decision-making are explored, including the potential influence of outcome presentation on the terrorist's choice of action