Is there a term for 'the fear of terrorism'?
December 22, 2016 4:40 PM Subscribe
Fear of terrorism is one of the defining forces in politics today, but as far as I can find there's no memorable term or phrase for it.
Here are some example sentences in which this term might be used, for clarification:
"The authoritarian drew on the population's [fear of terrorism] to limit civil liberties."
"Although [fear of terrorism] rose during the three-year period, incidents of terrorism declined."
"After 9/11, the USA's national dialogue was permeated by [fear of terrorism]."
Here are some example sentences in which this term might be used, for clarification:
"The authoritarian drew on the population's [fear of terrorism] to limit civil liberties."
"Although [fear of terrorism] rose during the three-year period, incidents of terrorism declined."
"After 9/11, the USA's national dialogue was permeated by [fear of terrorism]."
Response by poster: Yes, I've seen "terrorphobia". I don't know why I failed to say so in the original question.
I don't love terrorphobia, since it seems to imply an individual problem rather than a cultural one, as in the Urban Dictionary example. Still, it will do if no one has a better suggestion.
posted by galaxy rise at 4:51 PM on December 22, 2016
I don't love terrorphobia, since it seems to imply an individual problem rather than a cultural one, as in the Urban Dictionary example. Still, it will do if no one has a better suggestion.
posted by galaxy rise at 4:51 PM on December 22, 2016
Threat inflation is a good way to refer to the concept of people freaking out about terrorism but not car accidents even though one is much more likely to kill you. Not the exact term you're looking for but it's at least tangentially helpful perhaps?
posted by Ferreous at 4:59 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Ferreous at 4:59 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Culture of fear isn't perfect but I like it better than 'terrorphobia'.
posted by gatorae at 5:01 PM on December 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gatorae at 5:01 PM on December 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's essentially xenophobia or Islamopohobia in many cases.
posted by blackzinfandel at 5:10 PM on December 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by blackzinfandel at 5:10 PM on December 22, 2016 [7 favorites]
"Fear of fear itself"? I've heard that it's the only thing we really have to fear.
posted by heatherlogan at 5:58 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 5:58 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
More seriously: I think the proper Greek would be "deimophobia", from deimos - terror, and phobos - fear.
Apropos of nothing, Deimos and Phobos are also the names of the two small moons of Mars (since they are sons of Mars in Greek mythology).
posted by heatherlogan at 6:02 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
Apropos of nothing, Deimos and Phobos are also the names of the two small moons of Mars (since they are sons of Mars in Greek mythology).
posted by heatherlogan at 6:02 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've also heard it referred to as "letting the terrorists win".
posted by heatherlogan at 6:06 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 6:06 PM on December 22, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'd call it xenophobia, because it's never about "our people" causing terror.
posted by zippy at 6:10 PM on December 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by zippy at 6:10 PM on December 22, 2016 [5 favorites]
deinos with an n. Think dinosaur, terrible lizard.
Mind you, it's a bit redundant. Terror of terror?
Or perhaps it's just doubling down.
posted by IndigoJones at 6:58 PM on December 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mind you, it's a bit redundant. Terror of terror?
Or perhaps it's just doubling down.
posted by IndigoJones at 6:58 PM on December 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
deinos = terrible, deimos = terror. But in any case the fear is not of terror, but of terrorism, so I think my clever coinage was in fact a derail. :(
posted by heatherlogan at 7:17 PM on December 22, 2016
posted by heatherlogan at 7:17 PM on December 22, 2016
As a cultural problem, I would call this "alarmism" but you would probably still have to qualify it as "alarmism about terrorism".
posted by capricorn at 8:54 AM on December 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by capricorn at 8:54 AM on December 23, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I appreciate all the suggestions. It looks like there isn't a good answer to this one.
Still, I learned someting about the moons of Mars at least. Thanks, heatherlogan. ;)
posted by galaxy rise at 9:26 PM on December 23, 2016
Still, I learned someting about the moons of Mars at least. Thanks, heatherlogan. ;)
posted by galaxy rise at 9:26 PM on December 23, 2016
Xenophobia is a terrible definition and in itself kinda xenophobic.
As an Irish Catholic I've been as afraid of the IRA as of the UVF and if you think that people in the Middle East or Africa aren't terrified of Boko Haram or Daesh well then I don't know what to tell you, it's mainly them getting fucked. Fear of terrorism is living in terror. Or, as terrorists like to say, "success".
posted by Iteki at 2:09 PM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
As an Irish Catholic I've been as afraid of the IRA as of the UVF and if you think that people in the Middle East or Africa aren't terrified of Boko Haram or Daesh well then I don't know what to tell you, it's mainly them getting fucked. Fear of terrorism is living in terror. Or, as terrorists like to say, "success".
posted by Iteki at 2:09 PM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Suffering from a fear of terrorism. Terrorphobic.
Crowded public transport, being in a tall building, large public events, or seeing a bag left on its own make you scared for your life. "I cant go to the Opening Cermony because of my terrorphobia. It would be the perfect time to attack."
posted by philip-random at 4:43 PM on December 22, 2016 [1 favorite]