Factors affecting risk perception during terrorist attacks

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk perception of a community when responding immediately after a terrorist attack in Iraq. Primary data has been collected through intensive interviews with 10 respondents, all of whom participated in responding to the 2010 four separate, sequential bombings of the Hilla Textile Company, to elicit the factors that could influence the risk perception of people. A storytelling data collection method was used to extract information and to examine how the communities perceive risks when responding to terrorist attacks despite the fact that they may be targeted by other sequential bombings. Primary and secondary data analysis shows that a number of factors influence the risk perception of people. By considering the similarities and their key characteristics, these factors have been broadly divided into three main themes, namely, knowledge about the hazard, personality factors, and membership in a cultural group. The empirical evidence of the study is closely aligned with the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It shows that how attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behaviour control has influenced the behaviour of people when responding to such attacks. Accordingly, local government can use the findings of this study to improve their terrorism risk management.