Convenors:

• Stephan Lewandowsky, School of Psychology
• Werner Stritzke, School of Psychology
• David Denemark, Political Sciences and International Relations
• Frank Morgan, Crime Research Centre
• Joe Clare, Crime Research Centre

The importance of this topic in the present state of the world needs little justification. On the one hand, the risk of future acts of terrorism cannot be dismissed, although much remains unknown about the actual magnitude of risk and how it might be reduced. On the other hand, the response against those threats has introduced counter measures such as pre-emptive strikes and the now acknowledged “legalised” practice of certain forms of torture by Western governments, whose long-term consequences are poorly understood.

A crucial component of the struggle between those opposing forces is vying for public perception. Indeed, in a striking albeit unintended display of agreement, the importance of the struggle for public opinion and sympathies is acknowledged by all parties.

It follows that one critical element in any efforts to reduce the risk of terrorism and torture is a good understanding of public opinion regarding those issues and the processes that determine it.

This application is built on the premise that an understanding of public opinions and perceptions concerning terrorism and torture requires interdisciplinary collaboration of experts in three key fields:

• Media and communication studies
• Experimental and clinical psychology
• Public perceptions, political science and law

This two-day symposium explored these issues and will include a number of national and international experts from a range of disciplines including:

• M. Gregg Bloche, Georgetown University
• Ron Clarke, Rutgers University
• Stanley Feldman, State University of New York at Stonybrook
• Doris Graber, University of Illinois at Chicago
• Leonie Huddy, State University of New York at Stonybrook
• Winnifred Louis, University of Queensland
• Fathali Moghaddam, Georgetown University
• Tom Pyszczynski, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
• Ben Saul, University of New South Wales