ATAP CTM CORE MAIN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SET A+
✔✔Final act behavior - ✔✔Pre‐breach preparations made by the person(s) posing a
threat right before the threat is carried out. This can include acts like disseminating
reasons for the attack or executing a last will and testament (Calhoun & Weston, 2009).
✔✔greivance - ✔✔Generally defined as the cause of someone's distress or reason for
complaint or resentment. In threat Assessment contexts, it takes on an additional
meaning to include a highly personal meaning for the subject, after fueling a feeling of
being wrangled and translating into behaviors related to a sense of mission, destiny,
loss or desire for revenge, (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Howlers (AKA Barkers) - ✔✔individuals who, though they have inappropriate,
bizarre or threatening contact with the target, never intend on following a path to
violence. (Calhoun & Weston 2009)
✔✔Binder Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten to facilitate a personal relationship
with the target
✔✔Celebrity-seeking Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who are motivated to threaten individuals
because of their high public profile.
✔✔Controller Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as means of control over the
target, usually a partner or family member.
✔✔Copycat Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a reaction to other threats or
reports of violence.
✔✔Crusader Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a means to further a personal
casue.
,✔✔Deluded Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a result of delusional relationship
(or potential relationship) with the target
✔✔Delusional Howlers - ✔✔Individuals for whom delusional content plays a direct role
in their threats.
✔✔Dirty-trickster howler - ✔✔Individuals who threated in order to implicate a third party
as the perpetrator of the threats.
✔✔Habitual Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threated on a continual basis, much like a
hobby.
✔✔Impersonal Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten someone they do not know.
✔✔Intimidator Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a way on intimidating the
target, who is typically a member of one of their social circles.
✔✔Maintainer Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as an attempt to continue a
relationship that the target wishes to end.
✔✔Seeker Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a means to establish an intimate
relationship with the target, even when the target has repeatedly rebuffed them.
✔✔Personal Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten someone they known.
✔✔Self-defender howler - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a defensive reaction to a
perceived threat or attack from the target.
✔✔Sinister Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten in order to scare the target.
✔✔Human on human violence - ✔✔Deliberate actions taken by a human against
another human with the intention of causing harm.
✔✔Hunters (AKA Biters) - ✔✔Individuals who intend to follow a path toward violence
and behave in ways to further their goal. (Calhoun 1998; Calhoun & Weston 2003,
2009)
✔✔ideation - ✔✔the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas. In Threat
Assessment contexts, this term takes on the added meaning of entertaining ideas
specific to the utility and acceptability of violence as a means to address the subject's
particular grievance. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
,✔✔identification - ✔✔Thoughts of the necessity and utility of violence by a subject that
are made evident though behaviors such as researching previous attacker and
collecting, practicing, and fantasizing about weapons. (Meloy 2011)
✔✔Impromptu violence - ✔✔This is an act of spontaneous violence often sparked by
situational or contextual triggers (Calhoun & Weston, 2003; Calhoun & Weston, 2009).
✔✔Inappropriate Communication or Contact - ✔✔Contact or communication with the
target that is unwanted and intended by the subject to further the motives behind the
threatening behavior. Contact can be written, verbal or behavioral in nature and
delivered in a variety of ways. These may be perceived by the target as intimidation,
harassment, threatening, or out of context (abbreviated as IC&C) (Calhoun & Weston,
2009).
✔✔Information Analysis - ✔✔careful consideration of converging evidence in a case to
ascertain the level of threat posed and progress toward violence
✔✔information gathering - ✔✔Process of obtaining information from all available
sources to inform the analysis and decision making in a threat assessment (Fein &
Vossekuil 1998)
✔✔Information Sharing - ✔✔Facilitation of the flow of information among entities
responsible for a case so that all parties have access to current, relevant information on
which to base decision making. (DOD 2007)
✔✔Information Silos - ✔✔Information that is not shared across disciplines or agencies
is sometimes referred to as this. (Calhoun & Weston 2012)
✔✔Inhibitors - ✔✔This is anything that serves to decrease the likelihood that a subject's
behavior will escalate to an act of targeted violence. sometimes referred to as buffers.
(Calhoun & Weton 2012)
✔✔Insider Threat - ✔✔An individual with access to a facility or organization who uses
that access to disrupt or cause harm to the organization or others involved with that
organization (Cappelli, 2005).
✔✔intended violence - ✔✔Violent acts which meet the following criteria: intent to
commit the act, selecting an attack mode that ensures injury, death or property damage
and a motive that does not profit the attacker (Calhoun & Weston, 2003).
✔✔interrogation - ✔✔Purposeful questioning of a subject to obtain accurate, useful, and
timely information relevant to an investigation.
, ✔✔Intervention - ✔✔An action or process that has the effect of modifying behavior,
thinking or emotions. In threat Assessment, it is the action taken in implementation of a
threat management strategy. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Intervention/Inhibitor Dichotomy - ✔✔Disciplinary actions toward a subject are often
required in threat management to ensure a target's safety; however, confrontational
interventions can also negatively affect a subject's well‐being. The relationship between
the target's safety and the subject's well‐being can be described as a dichotomy in
some situations, because each impacts the other and often suggest different threat
management decisions. Both should be considered and continuously assessed after
intervention (Calhoun & Weston, 2012).
✔✔Intervention Synergy - ✔✔The case dynamic intensified by the stimulus of what the
threat manager or target does or does not do in response to the threat situations
(Calhoun & Weston, 2012).
✔✔Intervention Vectors - ✔✔Similar in concept to intervention strategies, it is the range
of levels of confrontation with the subject of a threat management case (Calhoun &
Weston, 2003).
✔✔Interview Approaches - ✔✔Strategies to engage a subject in the interview in order to
elicit information.
✔✔Interview Strategy - ✔✔Plan for the goals and approaches to an interview. (Calhoun
& Weston 2003)
✔✔intimacy - ✔✔Real or perceived close personal relationship, sometimes
accompanied by physical or sexual contact. (jenkins 2009)
✔✔Intimacy Effect - ✔✔The closer the interpersonal relationship (degree of intimacy)
between the threatener (subject) and the threatened (target), the greater is the
likelihood of threats being carried out. This intimacy is based upon the subject's
perception of the relationship, which may be delusional and completely unknown to the
target. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Investigation - ✔✔An Active process of seeking out and finding information relevant
to a threat assessment case.
✔✔investigative interview - ✔✔A verbal interaction between a law enforcement officer
and a civilian for which the purpose is gathering information(Boetig & Bellmer 2008)
✔✔JACA - ✔✔Acronym for Justification, Alternatives, Consequences and Ability.
(deBecker 1997)
SET A+
✔✔Final act behavior - ✔✔Pre‐breach preparations made by the person(s) posing a
threat right before the threat is carried out. This can include acts like disseminating
reasons for the attack or executing a last will and testament (Calhoun & Weston, 2009).
✔✔greivance - ✔✔Generally defined as the cause of someone's distress or reason for
complaint or resentment. In threat Assessment contexts, it takes on an additional
meaning to include a highly personal meaning for the subject, after fueling a feeling of
being wrangled and translating into behaviors related to a sense of mission, destiny,
loss or desire for revenge, (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Howlers (AKA Barkers) - ✔✔individuals who, though they have inappropriate,
bizarre or threatening contact with the target, never intend on following a path to
violence. (Calhoun & Weston 2009)
✔✔Binder Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten to facilitate a personal relationship
with the target
✔✔Celebrity-seeking Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who are motivated to threaten individuals
because of their high public profile.
✔✔Controller Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as means of control over the
target, usually a partner or family member.
✔✔Copycat Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a reaction to other threats or
reports of violence.
✔✔Crusader Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a means to further a personal
casue.
,✔✔Deluded Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a result of delusional relationship
(or potential relationship) with the target
✔✔Delusional Howlers - ✔✔Individuals for whom delusional content plays a direct role
in their threats.
✔✔Dirty-trickster howler - ✔✔Individuals who threated in order to implicate a third party
as the perpetrator of the threats.
✔✔Habitual Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threated on a continual basis, much like a
hobby.
✔✔Impersonal Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten someone they do not know.
✔✔Intimidator Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a way on intimidating the
target, who is typically a member of one of their social circles.
✔✔Maintainer Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as an attempt to continue a
relationship that the target wishes to end.
✔✔Seeker Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a means to establish an intimate
relationship with the target, even when the target has repeatedly rebuffed them.
✔✔Personal Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten someone they known.
✔✔Self-defender howler - ✔✔Individuals who threaten as a defensive reaction to a
perceived threat or attack from the target.
✔✔Sinister Howlers - ✔✔Individuals who threaten in order to scare the target.
✔✔Human on human violence - ✔✔Deliberate actions taken by a human against
another human with the intention of causing harm.
✔✔Hunters (AKA Biters) - ✔✔Individuals who intend to follow a path toward violence
and behave in ways to further their goal. (Calhoun 1998; Calhoun & Weston 2003,
2009)
✔✔ideation - ✔✔the capacity for or the act of forming or entertaining ideas. In Threat
Assessment contexts, this term takes on the added meaning of entertaining ideas
specific to the utility and acceptability of violence as a means to address the subject's
particular grievance. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
,✔✔identification - ✔✔Thoughts of the necessity and utility of violence by a subject that
are made evident though behaviors such as researching previous attacker and
collecting, practicing, and fantasizing about weapons. (Meloy 2011)
✔✔Impromptu violence - ✔✔This is an act of spontaneous violence often sparked by
situational or contextual triggers (Calhoun & Weston, 2003; Calhoun & Weston, 2009).
✔✔Inappropriate Communication or Contact - ✔✔Contact or communication with the
target that is unwanted and intended by the subject to further the motives behind the
threatening behavior. Contact can be written, verbal or behavioral in nature and
delivered in a variety of ways. These may be perceived by the target as intimidation,
harassment, threatening, or out of context (abbreviated as IC&C) (Calhoun & Weston,
2009).
✔✔Information Analysis - ✔✔careful consideration of converging evidence in a case to
ascertain the level of threat posed and progress toward violence
✔✔information gathering - ✔✔Process of obtaining information from all available
sources to inform the analysis and decision making in a threat assessment (Fein &
Vossekuil 1998)
✔✔Information Sharing - ✔✔Facilitation of the flow of information among entities
responsible for a case so that all parties have access to current, relevant information on
which to base decision making. (DOD 2007)
✔✔Information Silos - ✔✔Information that is not shared across disciplines or agencies
is sometimes referred to as this. (Calhoun & Weston 2012)
✔✔Inhibitors - ✔✔This is anything that serves to decrease the likelihood that a subject's
behavior will escalate to an act of targeted violence. sometimes referred to as buffers.
(Calhoun & Weton 2012)
✔✔Insider Threat - ✔✔An individual with access to a facility or organization who uses
that access to disrupt or cause harm to the organization or others involved with that
organization (Cappelli, 2005).
✔✔intended violence - ✔✔Violent acts which meet the following criteria: intent to
commit the act, selecting an attack mode that ensures injury, death or property damage
and a motive that does not profit the attacker (Calhoun & Weston, 2003).
✔✔interrogation - ✔✔Purposeful questioning of a subject to obtain accurate, useful, and
timely information relevant to an investigation.
, ✔✔Intervention - ✔✔An action or process that has the effect of modifying behavior,
thinking or emotions. In threat Assessment, it is the action taken in implementation of a
threat management strategy. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Intervention/Inhibitor Dichotomy - ✔✔Disciplinary actions toward a subject are often
required in threat management to ensure a target's safety; however, confrontational
interventions can also negatively affect a subject's well‐being. The relationship between
the target's safety and the subject's well‐being can be described as a dichotomy in
some situations, because each impacts the other and often suggest different threat
management decisions. Both should be considered and continuously assessed after
intervention (Calhoun & Weston, 2012).
✔✔Intervention Synergy - ✔✔The case dynamic intensified by the stimulus of what the
threat manager or target does or does not do in response to the threat situations
(Calhoun & Weston, 2012).
✔✔Intervention Vectors - ✔✔Similar in concept to intervention strategies, it is the range
of levels of confrontation with the subject of a threat management case (Calhoun &
Weston, 2003).
✔✔Interview Approaches - ✔✔Strategies to engage a subject in the interview in order to
elicit information.
✔✔Interview Strategy - ✔✔Plan for the goals and approaches to an interview. (Calhoun
& Weston 2003)
✔✔intimacy - ✔✔Real or perceived close personal relationship, sometimes
accompanied by physical or sexual contact. (jenkins 2009)
✔✔Intimacy Effect - ✔✔The closer the interpersonal relationship (degree of intimacy)
between the threatener (subject) and the threatened (target), the greater is the
likelihood of threats being carried out. This intimacy is based upon the subject's
perception of the relationship, which may be delusional and completely unknown to the
target. (Calhoun & Weston 2003)
✔✔Investigation - ✔✔An Active process of seeking out and finding information relevant
to a threat assessment case.
✔✔investigative interview - ✔✔A verbal interaction between a law enforcement officer
and a civilian for which the purpose is gathering information(Boetig & Bellmer 2008)
✔✔JACA - ✔✔Acronym for Justification, Alternatives, Consequences and Ability.
(deBecker 1997)
