The Social and Psychological Impact of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks: A Discursive Analysis

Abstract

The social and psychological effects of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were analyzed via the Hermeneutic-Dialectic mode of inquiry. An informal and spontaneous discussion among four young adult residents of New York City in April of 2002 revealed that while anxiety has lessened since the attacks, a sense of security that existed before September 11 remains lost. Women described more fear for their safety than men, and men expressed more anger and desire for revenge. In addition, participants reported perceiving positive consequences of the attacks, citing greater value placed on personal relationships and life in general. The discourse provided a vehicle for greater awareness ofthe emotional and social impact ofthe events, leading to a sense of shared reality among the participants.