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Cited by 38Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceCybersecurity and Cyber Warfare StudiesInformation and Cyber Security

A Cyberterrorism Effect? Emotional Reactions to Lethal Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

Backhaus, Sophia, Gross, Michael L., Waismel-Manor, Israel, Cohen, Hagit, Canetti, Daphna·2020·Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking
DOI 10.1089/cyber.2019.0692
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Abstract

To what extent does exposure to cyberterrorism arouse negative emotions? Cyberterrorism has developed the potential to cause similarly lethal consequences to conventional terrorism, especially when targeted at critical infrastructures. But like conventional terrorism, cyberterrorism aims to terrorize, and exposure to cyberterror attacks can affect emotional responses. This article is based on an experiment that explores emotional responses to cyberterrorism using specially designed news reports showing major cyber attacks against critical water infrastructure. Our findings indicate that cyberterrorism arouses heightened reactions of anger and stress (measured physiologically through cortisol levels, and through self-report measures). Our findings also reveal that (a) exposure to cyberterror attacks is associated with higher levels of stress than of anger; (b) that these emotional responses do not differ from the emotions triggered by conventional terrorism; and (c) these responses are not dependent on the lethality of the attack. Finally, cortisol levels remained constant across conditions. This study covers new ground as it explores the distinctive role of anger after cyberterrorism, while affirming studies that describe the presence of stress.

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Crossref · 10.1089/cyber.2019.0692

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  • Cyberterrorism is substantively different from conventional terrorism in its practice and effects.

    “Yet while cyberterrorism is unquestionably related, research has shown that it is substantively different from conventional terrorism in its practice and effects (Backhaus et al. 2020; Shandler, Snider, and Canetti 2022; Shandler and Gomez 2022; Shandler et al., 2023).”

    From Public Opinion and Cyberterrorism (2023) · cites this paper as Backhaus et al. 2020

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Authors
Backhaus, S., Gross, M. L., Waismel-Manor, I., Cohen, H., & Canetti, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Konstanz (DE)
  • University of Haifa (IL)
  • Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
Corresponding author
Canetti, Daphna
ORCID
Venue
Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2020-09
Volume
23
Issue
9
Pages
595-603
ISSN
  • 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
  • 2152-2723
DOI
10.1089/cyber.2019.0692
OpenAlex
W3042067291
Cited by
38
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7
FWCI
7.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information and Cyber Security
Keywords
cyberterrorism, emotional responses, anger, stress, cortisol, critical infrastructure attacks, water infrastructure, news exposure, physiological stress response
MeSH terms
Adult, Anger, Computer Simulation, Emotions, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Students, Terrorism, Self Report

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