Hostile intent in public crowded spaces: a field study.
Hostile reconnaissance is vital to successful terrorist activity. Individuals carrying out this activity are likely to experience raised levels of stress and this will manifest itself at biological, physiological, psychological and behavioural levels, providing an opportunity for detection. A field trial was undertaken in an ecologically valid environment measuring variables considered likely to be salient during hostile intent. The parameters examined in the field trial varied in a predictable manner and suggest that stressed individuals secrete a volatile steroid based marker that could form the basis for remote detection. Thus, overall the findings of this research provide a validated model of hostile intent that can be used by other researchers to test interventions aimed at detecting or deterring hostile intent.
School of Social Work, Psychology and Public Health, Allerton Building, Frederick Road Campus, University of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester M6 6PU, UK. p.eachus@salford.ac.uk
Peter
P
Eachus
Alex
A
Stedmon
Les
L
Baillie
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D008192:Deception; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D049049:Pheromones, Human / Q000032:analysis; D012119:Respiration; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014741:Video Recording; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D049049:Pheromones, Human; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D006854:Hydrocortisone