Why we fight: investigating the moral appeals in terrorist propaganda, their predictors, and their association with attack severity

IF 6.1 1区文学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Journal of Communication Pub Date : 2023-09-17 DOI:10.1093/joc/jqad029

Lindsay Hahn, Katherine Schibler, Tahleen A Lattimer, Zena Toh, Alexandra Vuich, Raphaela Velho, Kevin Kryston, John O’Leary, Sihan Chen

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Abstract

How do terrorists persuade otherwise decent citizens to join their violent causes? Guided by early mass communication research investigating propaganda’s efficacy and the model of intuitive morality and exemplars, we investigated the persuasive moral appeals employed by terrorist organizations known to be successful at recruiting others to their causes. We compiled a database of N = 873 propaganda items created by N = 73 violent terrorist organizations and content analyzed the moral appeals emphasized in each. Results revealed that terrorist groups’ ideologies and motivations predicted the moral values they emphasized in their propaganda, and that ingroup loyalty and fairness appeals featured prominently across all propaganda. Terrorist groups’ emphasis on purity in their propaganda was positively correlated with their attack frequency and with the number of human casualties they caused worldwide and in the USA. Terrorists’ emphasis on ingroup loyalty in propaganda was also positively correlated with the number of US human casualties they caused. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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我们为什么要战斗:调查恐怖主义宣传中的道德诉求，它们的预测因素，以及它们与袭击严重程度的关系

恐怖分子如何说服原本正派的公民加入他们的暴力事业?在早期大众传播研究的指导下，我们调查了宣传的功效以及直觉道德和典范的模型，我们调查了恐怖组织所使用的有说服力的道德呼吁，这些呼吁被认为是成功地招募他人加入他们的事业。我们整理了N = 73个暴力恐怖组织制作的N = 873个宣传项目的数据库，内容分析了每个组织所强调的道德呼吁。结果显示，恐怖组织的意识形态和动机预测了他们在宣传中强调的道德价值观，群体内忠诚和公平呼吁在所有宣传中都占据突出地位。恐怖组织在宣传中强调纯洁性，这与他们的袭击频率以及他们在全球和美国造成的人员伤亡人数呈正相关。恐怖分子在宣传中强调的群体忠诚也与他们造成的美国人员伤亡人数呈正相关。讨论了理论和实践意义。

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来源期刊

Journal of Communication COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

11.60

自引率

5.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Communication, the flagship journal of the International Communication Association, is a vital publication for communication specialists and policymakers alike. Focusing on communication research, practice, policy, and theory, it delivers the latest and most significant findings in communication studies. The journal also includes an extensive book review section and symposia of selected studies on current issues. JoC publishes top-quality scholarship on all aspects of communication, with a particular interest in research that transcends disciplinary and sub-field boundaries.