One of the major objectives of terrorism is purporting terror and fear that is meant to break humans either directly or indirectly affected by the actions of terrorists. Terrorists target people and their ability to react to the situation in an emotional manner and as such causing maximum damage physically, mentally and psychologically.
However, contrary to popular opinion, human beings are more holistically resilient and move on and forge a forward path even after devastating events caused by a terrorist. For instance, studies show that people who witness a terror or violent act from the media are likely to carry on with their lives unaffected by the happenings.
Studies have revealed that terrorism isn’t terrorizing – at least not in the sense that most researchers looked for, in terms of it causing rates of PTSD greater than from any other potentially traumatic event. Terrorism typically is responsible for less than 5% for civilian populations’ PTSD. The statistics are a good indicator that groups like Al Qaeda and ISIS have not achieved their fundamental goals of instilling fear and causing people to fight with each other to survives.
The spirit of community has helped build the capacity of human beings to withstand and surviving terrorizing events. People tend to rely on the community and people they trust to rebuild and restart life. This fact is evidenced by the number of refugees voluntarily willing to return to their homes in Somalia and the Middle East after the threat has been eliminated to pick up where they left before they were displaced by terror groups and war.
Additionally, further evidence that terrorism is not as terrorizing is the US after 9/11, Libya after the fall of Gadhafi and ISIS invasion as well as most parts of Somalia that al Shabaab has been driven out of. Therefore, governments and other stakeholders should focus on building the capacity of resilience within the community to ensure that the enemy does not succeed in disrupting life but rather any suspicious activities attempting to interfere with the peace are reported by enhancing civic participation.
