The Whodunit Quiz?

An exercise in the social cognition of group profiling and its utility in

counter-terrorism strategies

Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D.Department of Psychology

University at Buffalo

www.PsychologyofTerrorism.com

The following “quiz” was posted on a blog discussing terrorism and Middle Eastern politics on 03/24/2006 11:53:48 AM PST by ConservativeBamaFan

Question #1

In 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles by (a) Superman, (b) Jay Leno, (c) Tiger Woods, (d) a Muslim man between 17 and 40 years old.

Question #2

In 1972, 11 Israeli athletes were kidnapped and killed at the Munich Olympics by

(a) the kid who cuts your grass, (b) Sitting Bull, (c) Arnold Schwarzenegger, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #3

In 1979, the US Embassy in Tehran was over-ran & 90 Americans were held for 444 days by

(a) Bruce Lee, (b) Elvis Presley's deceased twin brother, (c) a tour group of Minnesota grandmothers, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #4

During the 1980s, several Americans were kidnapped in Beirut by

(a) O J Simpson, (b) the king of Sweden, (c) the pope and a gang of Cardinals, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #5

In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon was blown up, killing 220 Marines, by

(a) a Domino's Pizza delivery man, (b) the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, (c) Catherine Zeta-Jones, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #6

In 1985, the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70-year-old American passenger thrown overboard in his wheelchair by

(a) Sugar Ray Leonard, (b) your next door neighbor, (c) the Little Mermaid, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #7

In 1985, TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens and a U.S. Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by

(a) Captain Kangaroo, (b)Walt Disney, (c) Mother Teresa, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #8

In 1988, Pan American Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb in midair by

(a) Butch Cassidy, (b) the Sundance Kid, (c) the Tooth Fairy, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #9

The World Trade Center was bombed the first time in 1993 by

(a) Stonewall Jackson, (b) Michael Jordan, (c) Winston Churchill, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #10

In 1998, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by

(a) Santa Claus, (b) your sister's cat's grandmother's first owner's son's basketball coach's ex-wife, (c) the World Wrestling Federation, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #11

On September 11, 2001, airliners were hijacked to crash into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by

(a) Bugs Bunny, (b) Bob the Tomato, (c) Ricky Martin, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #12

In 2002, Daniel Pearl of the Wall Street Journal was kidnapped and beheaded by

(a) Bonnie and Clyde, (b) the Michelin man, (c) Barney Fife, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Question #13

In July of 2005, several targets were attacked in central London, killing 52 persons, by

(a) the Orkin Man, (b) Margaret Thatcher, (c) Mr. Goodwrench, (d) Muslims between 17 and 40.

Issues

• What’s the profile?

• Is profiling justified?• Does it significantly diminish the ‘pool’ of

potential suspects?• Is it discriminatory?

• What’s the difference between prejudicial stereotyping and group profiling for terrorist activity?

Other terrorist profiles based on ethnic/religious characteristics?

• Develop a similar ‘profile’ for one or more of the following:• Christian terrorists• Jewish terrorists• White not of Hispanic origin terrorists• Hispanic terrorists• African American terrorists• Asian terrorists