A BRIEF CONFERENCE PAPER EXAMINES SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TERROR AFTER ASSIGNING THE STUDY TO THE REALM OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE RESULTS PRODUCED BY AN ACT RATHER THAN ON THE ACT ITSELF. SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF TERROR EXAMINED ARE ITS RELATION TO VIOLENCE, RANDOMNESS, IMPORTANCE AND NATURE OF TARGETS, NATURE OF THE RESPONSE OF THE VICTIMS, PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF BEING PART OF A TARGET GROUP, REACTION OF LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY TO TERRORIST ACTS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR. FROM THESE ELEMENTS A DEFINITION OF TERROR IS DERIVED: TERROR IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE OF DESPAIR AND DESPERATION (IN WHICH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IMAGINE THEMSELVES TO BE VICTIMS) PRODUCED USUALLY AMONG A WELL-DELINEATED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS BY A SERIES OF ACTS, USUALLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY VIOLENT IN NATURE, AND COMMITTED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO, IF THEY INTEND THEIR ACTS TO PRODUCE TERROR, ARE TERMED TERRORISTS. TERRORISTS INTEND TO EMBARRASS, TO CHALLENGE, TO DESTROY SOME INSTITUTION, GOVERNMENT, OR GROUP BY THEIR ACTIONS. (RFC)