PSYC 401, Psychology of War & Terrorism, is offered approximately once every three semesters. This three credit course examines alternative warfare (e.g., insurgency, guerilla, urban warfare, and terrorism) from a social psychological perspective. Topics include motivations, recruitment, tactics, media use, prevent programs, and counter efforts.

In May 2016 Dr. Blincoe taught this course as a study abroad. Along with colleague Dr. Gibbs and in collaboration with EF tours, she taught 20 Longwood students for 12 days in 4 countries.

Highlights included:

• The Newseum, Washington D.C.
  • featuring a classroom session on media ethics and exploration of the Inside Today’s FBI exhibit
• United States Department of State, Washington D.C.
  • presentations by Omar Amach, Senior Advisor for the new Global Engagement Center; Eva Smith, Policy Specialist at the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations; David Combs, Foreign Affairs Officer
• Council on Foreign Relations
  • briefing by Amy J Nelson, Nuclear Security Fellow
• Imperial War Museum, London
• Press Association, London
• European Commission, Brussels
• Civil Military Cooperation Center of Excellence, the Hague
• International Criminal Court & the Humanity House, the Hague

Dr. Blincoe gave a presentation on this course at the Eastern Psychological Association conference in Boston in March 2017. Her presentation, entitled Teaching the Psychology of Terrorism: A Call for Curriculum was part of a teaching papers session.