Disconnection & isolation may drive gunmen to kill numerous people, like at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Mass murder isn't new to us - but it's definitely increasing.
The school shooting in 1966 at the University of Texas marked the beginning of an era of increased mass murders. In that case, Charles Whitman was a student who climbed a 27-storey tower, killed 14 people, and wounded 31 others before the police killed him. Since then there have been numerous incidents of mass shootings in California, Texas, Colorado, and Canada (to name a few).
When four or more people are killed, it's mass murder. Serial killing, on the other hand, occurs when numerous people are murdered over months or even years. Female serial killers tend to go undetected longer than males, possibly because of their methods.
Why they kill
"We easily recognize the living rooms and kitchens of sitcom characters but have never seen the inside of the home of the family next door," said Purdue University's Glenn Sparks. "We are increasingly isolated…In extreme cases, people may lash out and hurt others."
Ann Marie C. Lenhardt of Canisius College in Buffalo studied 15 school shooters for almost a decade, and found that 71% felt isolated and rejected by peers. They feel bullied and persecuted. Their coping skills are poor, and they have extreme needs for attention and respect.
The traditional concepts of man-and-woman marriage, low divorce, church attendance, rural or small town communities, and staying close to family members have dwindled away. This may contribute to increased feelings of isolation and disconnection.
Does it spread?
Mass murder has existed since the beginning of man, but it does appear to be increasing. Like suicide, mass murder seems to build on itself. In modern U.S. history, there have been eight large mass shootings – and seven have occurred in the past 25 years.
It's not that we're more bloodthirsty or violent. It's that weapons like handguns and long guns (semiautomatics) are more accessible to people now than they were prior to 1966. Information about mass killings is easy to find, making it easier to imagine and carry out. Video games and movies show dozens of killings within an hour and a half, with no consequences or thoughts beyond the initial violent moment.
How to stop them
Reach out. Glenn Sparks (professor of communication at Purdue University) suggests we as a society facilitate closer connections. Instead of sitting in front of the television or computer in the evening, go for a walk or visit your neighbors. If you know who's in your community, you are more likely not only to stop murderers before they kill, but also prevent perpetrators from developing at all.
Respect. Lenhardt reported that student shooters need better relationships with teachers and other school staff. They felt a lack of caring and respect; they also mentioned the "undercurrent of emotional or psychological violence such as teasing, bullying, being picked on and name calling." Perhaps teachers, principals, and parents need to set stricter rules and penalties for name calling and bullying.
Clearly, mass shootings won't be prevented just because we reach out and show respect. It may be a starting point, however, that has consequences beyond what we could imagine.
Mass killings are still very rare, and unlikely to occur in one's lifetime. In our democratic society, however, they - and increased psychological disorders - may be the reality we just have to live with.
The copyright of the article School Shootings in Child Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish School Shootings must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Apr 28, 2007 5:40 AM
Pink
:
. <i>It's not that we're more bloodthirsty or violent. It's that weapons like handguns and long guns (semiautomatics) are more accessible to people now than they were prior to 1966.</i> . I'm not so sure of that, Laurie. . There is a "monkey see, monkey do" aspect of human nature. As a psychologist you know that. . We live in violent times. In the United States, the very group of people that claims the high mark of morality--the Christian Right--promotes the violence in the Middle East almost as though it is God's desire for humanity that such events occur. We see violence on the tube and see, read, and hear about it from the media. It's a way of life and we settle our differences with our "enemies" through violence--bombing them to hell and back so they can bomb us to hell and back and on and on ad naseum. . Violence begets violence. . .
Apr 29, 2007 8:16 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
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The day I posted this article, I heard a psychologist say that the shooting had nothing to do with the media, availability of guns, or increased violence. She said this guy was a paranoid schizophrenic, and THAT'S the reason he went off like that. It's not about society or any of the other reasons people like to cite! - I don't think the answer is as simple as paranoid schizophrenia. - We've been bloodthirsty since caveman days, haven't we? Hasn't there always been killings, war, bloodshed, and human atrocities?
Apr 30, 2007 12:54 PM
Pink
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. Paranoid schizophrenics need scripts from which to carry out their delusions. . I don't see how anyone could say that what we are exposed to has nothing to do with how we act out. .
May 1, 2007 10:42 AM
Pink
:
. According to another participant here, the governor of Virginia has closed the loop hole that allowed persons with mental health histories to easily buy guns. .
May 3, 2007 2:07 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
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That seems like it should be obvious! But is it discriminatory? And which mental health issues are problematic? Depression? Schizophrenia? Seasonal affective disorder? There must be some parameters on it, I would think.
May 3, 2007 2:25 PM
Pink
:
. Perhaps it is discriminatory; but, our Supreme Court made a decision earlier about Clear and Present Dangers and we've had too many school shootings by people of questionable mental health. . I almost made a professional career of being a sociologist. In a way, I wish I would have done that. They are the ones who could figure these things out for us. But, big business and big government are buying them all up. So we have to figure them out for our own self. Do you know any good sociologists. Symbolics? .
May 4, 2007 9:16 AM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
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Hmm....don't know any sociologists at all, much less good ones! I did back in university, but when you're not in that sort of culture, you don't really run into them. I don't think. I don't, anyway. - I totally understand about not allowing people with mental health issues to buy guns; I'm just SO curious about where they draw the line! What's really wacko (sorry, I mean a threat) and what's not? - What was your career, pink? And why'd you choose Pink101 as a handle?
May 6, 2007 1:16 AM
redback
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Schizophrenia Awareness Week is coming up shortly here. And representatives from the police & ambulance among others will be speaking at the full day 'symposium' in Sydney. I'm sure this topic will come up informally or otherwise. I always take the opportunity to book into a motel a short walk away. A cuppla days later is a Parliamentary luncheon which I also attend. so, that and several other things makes May a <b>VERY</b> busy month for me.
Prevention or early intervention requires a program approach...not trying to second guess any individual's mental health problems. It needs us also to stop looking for 'wackos' to be avoided at all costs and to instead look to our friends, workmates, family members who may need your support and help. I have to wonder at a uni environment where they talk of a loner room mate who doesn't speak to them for months. Among that crowd, I see some ignorant or uncaring or gutless people who feed the very thing they protest against.
By program approach, I'm talking about things like simply having no guns at no uni. Whenever there is road rage, domestic violence, gang activity, and every other incident capable of police intervention, take statements relating to gun ownership and arrange inspections etc etc. When you apply for certain jobs (eg with kids?) where some psych assessment is undertaken, be required to disclose your gun ownership. Why not...it's something to be proud of, no? Or adopt the Aussie model.
And lets not kid ourselves. This is not about treated schizophrenia let alone being solely about schizophrenia. 20% of us are likely to suffer some mental health problem at any one time. There may be an impossibly short time frame between onset and disaster. The fellow sitting next to you on the bus?
Imagine if you had schizophrenia with all its insecurities and terrors. Where YOU are more likely to be bashed than do the bashing. And to believe everyone looking at you suspected you're likely to be violent?
Given the assumption there is a 500%(?) gun ownership in the USA (ie multiple guns included) maybe psychiatrists and priests should have a duty of disclosure. But tis all pie in the sky. The next massacre will inevitably sadden us too!
May 6, 2007 4:27 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
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Welcome back, Redback! - What's the Aussie model of which you speak? Is it like the Brits, who don't carry guns at all?
May 6, 2007 9:09 PM
redback
:
<i>"Welcome back, Redback!"</i> I have been wandering through, you know. :)
There has to be legitimate requirements that are tested. To own a gun (or rifle) which is routinely NOT needed by civilians, you join a gun club and must attend a practice activity at least 4 times a year, not just a club visit. They can lose their club licence if they are caught doing what they did for a neighbour ie signing off one visit as 2 practices. He even stuffed that up and his licence expired in April. His guns will be confiscated unless he wins an appeal. As a JP, I know his reasons are false so can't help him. Another neighbour had serious depressive symptoms and his club refused to renew his membership. It gave him an activity that distracted him, he said. I'm talking him through it.
Membership is conditional on the police permit...can't have one without the other. Other weapons such as rifles may be needed for pest control on farms etc so a purpose has to be declared. A reason such as "I am American" has no defined purpose. :)
But we had the world's largest amnesty & gun buyback and tis easier to report any behaviour inconsistent with legal gun ownership. Of course, there is a whole range of prohibited weaponry that would decimate the stocks held in private hands in the USA, if applied there.
