February 11, 2004—A new poll by Harris Interactive in the United States and its subsidiary HI Europe in the United Kingdom finds that the levels of anxiety about possible terrorist attacks in the two allied nations are very similar, as are the generally modest proportions of people who have changed their behavior because of the fear of terrorism. There is, however, one clear difference. Americans have more confidence than the British in the ability of the government to reduce the likelihood of a terrorist attack.
Most people in both countries do not worry a lot about a possible attack. People in Great Britain are slightly more worried than Americans about the possibility of a terrorist attack somewhere in the country, but the difference is very small. Twelve percent (12%) of the British, compared to 9% of Americans, worry “often,” while 59% of the British worry “occasionally” or “often” compared to 55% in the United States.
However, the more important finding here is that large numbers in both countries don’t worry much or at all (45% in the U.S. and 41% in G.B.) and that only small minorities in both countries worry “often.”
Public expectations about the likelihood of a major terrorist attack are closely related, unsurprisingly, to their level of anxiety. In both the United States and in Great Britain, only 11% think a major attack is “very” likely in the next twelve months, but most people (62% in the U.S. and 64% in G.B.) think it is either “somewhat” or “very” likely.
What people are doing to reduce their own risk:
Large majorities in both countries say they are not making any changes in their travel plans, their visits to big cities, or to big sporting or other events because of the possibilities of a terrorist attack.
However, even small percentages represent millions of people, so fear of terrorism is having some impact on behavior:
- 11% in the U.S. and 10% in G.B. say they are avoiding traveling by air “a lot.”
- 7% in both countries say they are avoiding big sporting or other events “a lot.”
- 5% in the U.S. and 3% in G.B. say they are traveling “a lot” less.
- 5% in U.S. and 6% in G.B. say they are avoiding visiting big cities “a lot.”
British and American perceptions of risk and their modest “avoidance behavior” are extraordinarily similar. However, their confidence in their governments to protect them from terrorist attacks are different. In the United States, 72% of adults have at least some confidence in the ability of the government to reduce the likelihood of terrorist attacks. In Britain, only a more modest 54% have at least some confidence. In Britain, 46% have little or no confidence in their government’s ability to reduce the risk, compared to only 28% in the United States.
These results are based on parallel surveys of the public conducted online. The U.S. survey is based on 3,378 adults aged 18 and over interviewed between January 19 and 28, 2004. The Great Britain survey is based on 2,417 people aged 18 and over surveyed between January 21 and 26, 2004.
