title: Winning counterterrorism's version of Pascal's wager, but struggling to open the purse.
abstract: Lankford's essential empirical argument, which is based on evidence such as psychological autopsies, is that suicide attacks are caused by suicidality. By operationalizing this causal claim in a hypothetical experiment, I show the claim to be provable, and I contend that its truth is supported by Lankford's data. However, I question his ensuing arguments about beauty and goodness, and thereby the practical value of his work in counterterrorist propaganda.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Insights,25 Waratah Avenue, Belgrave, VIC 3160, Australia; Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia. briangibbs@behaviouralscienceinsights.com www.behaviouralscienceinsights.com bgibbs@gsb.uchicago.eduwww.mbs.edu
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gibbs
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology*