Staying secure when terror looms

SMU Behavioural Sciences Institute director Professor David Chan was one of the three experts on a Straits Times roundtable discussing issues of terrorism in Singapore. He noted that terrorism has evolved such that a terrorist attack can be carried out not just by structured groups but also organic groups or even individuals, and it can happen anywhere and everywhere, including shopping malls and ferry terminals and not just hard targets such as government buildings. He explained how research on diffusion of responsibility can explain why in some crowded situations we do not do anything even when we observe something suspicious, and recognizing this and taking action could make a real difference to not just ourselves and our family but also the entire country. He noted the importance of building cohesion and trust among various groups in Singapore, embracing diversity, and building a core value common identity to address differences.