Conference on the Social, Psychological, and Political Impact on the American Public of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a number of surveys were mounted to measure public reactions and responses in New York City and the nation as a whole. Many of the surveys continue to document trends such as patriotism and confidence in leaders, the trade-off between security and civil liberties, and the psychological impact of September 11.

With support from the Foundation, Tom Smith will convene a meeting of researchers who have been independently assessing the social, psychological, and political impact of September 11 on the American public. The two-day conference at the Foundation will address research on the following topics: 1) psychological issues, such as depression, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder; 2) palliative factors, such as social support and professional care; 3) civic action; 4) the impact on civil liberties; 5) intergroup ethnic relations towards Muslims and Arabs; 6) patriotism and confidence in American leaders; and 7) the impact of 9/11 on New York City and its residents. Conference participants will discuss collaborative research topics and address the validity and reliability of current data.