Running head: ANGER AND FEAR TOWARD TERRORISM

The threat of terrorist attacks motivates emotional reactions which elicit functional behavioral responses to characteristics of a threatening group. We argue that anger arises the more the group is seen as unjust, whereas fear arises the more it is seen as powerful. In Experiment 1, British participants read about terrorist groups with varied levels of injustice and power. As expected, the manipulation of injustice increased anger, and power increased fear. Anger and fear both predicted offensive and defensive reactions. Experiment 2 used a representative sample of US residents and again found distinct effects of an injustice manipulation on anger, and a power manipulation on fear. Anger was a primary motivator of support for both offensive and defensive measures in both experiments. Willingness to negotiate was reduced with more injustice and anger, but increased with more outgroup power and fear. These findings have implications for public reactions to terrorist organizations.