MASS SHOOTINGS: SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES
Learning Objectives 1. Discuss the history of mass shootings 2. Explore causation myths such as medications and “mental illness” 3. Investigate main socio-cultural factors 4. Integrate evidence-based prevention
~ 918 Victims 71% African American 28% Children 26% Over age 50
Charles Whitman August 1, 1966
Mass Murder in the U.S. Brief History 1 st wave (prior to 1950s)—familicide-suicide, workplace 1950 to 1965 ~ relative quiescence 2 nd wave (after 1965)—high profile workplace shootings, some school shootings 3 rd wave (late 1990s)—gradual increase in school shootings, news as theater, moral panic
Mass Murder 4 or > victims at 1 location, 1 event (U.S. BJS) • Familicide ( suicide) • Crime-related (i.e., gang violence) • Disgruntled (ex) employee • Classroom avenger • Pseudo-commando
Mass Murder Classification Relationship/linkage + Motive • Relationship or link between victims and perpetrator (work, school, family, etc.) • Motive of perpetrator (resentful, psychotic, depressed, etc.)
School—Resentful • Socially excluded • Angry • Depressed • Vengeful
Common Characteristics (Mullen ’04) • Socially-excluded loners • Suspicious, resentful, grudge-holders • Self-centered, entitled, self-righteous • Externalizers (others are responsible)
Externalization "You forced me into a corner and gave me only one option. The decision was yours. Now you have blood on your hands that will never wash off....”
Common Characteristics (Mullen ’04) • Well planned—“he snapped” is a myth • Well prepared (guns, outfit) • Personal agenda = “Pay Back” • Seek infamy, aura of power • Influenced by & reference prior MMs
Mental Functioning Spectrum Psychotic Externalizing Internalizing Symptoms Hallucinations Envy Guilt Delusions Resentment Anxiety Rage Depression Disorganized thought Impulsivity/lability Modus Change world in Change world in reality Delay gratification to Operandi fantasy meet expectations
Persecutory Worldview • “[You know what I hate]… Culture. I’ve been pissed out of my mind all night thinking about it” (Lanza) • “Humanity is a cruel and brutal species…” (Rodgers) • “You have vandalized my heart, raped my soul and torched my conscience.” (Cho)
“Oh the happiness I could have had mingling among you hedonists, being counted as one of you, if only you didn’t ***** the living ***** out of me.”
drreidmeloy.com
Pathway: Research & Planning
• Allowed to fill out paperwork • Declined to sell guns • Thought behavior suspicious • Contacted law enforcement
TRAP-18: Proximal Warning Behaviors • Leakage—communicate to 3 rd party • Directly communicated threat—< 20% • Last resort behavior—“only alternative”
FBI Study of Pre-Attack Behaviors (Silver, J., Simons, A., & Craun, S. , 2018) Phase II: 2000–2013 N = 63 • 77%—planning 1 week or > • 46%—preparing 1 week or > • Majority obtained guns legally
Mental Illness “FBI could only verify that 25% (n = 16) of the active shooters in Phase II were known to have been diagnosed by a mental health professional with a mental illness of any kind prior to the offense.”
Mental Illness “Therefore, absent specific evidence, careful consideration should be given to social and contextual factors that might interact with any mental health issue before concluding that an active shooting was ‘caused’ by mental illness. In short, declarations that all active shooters must simply be mentally ill are misleading and unhelpful.”
Dr. Breggin
The Myth of School Shooters & Psychotropic Medications (Time = up to past 8 years): • Any psychotropic = 23 (47%) • Antidepressant = 11 (22%) • Antipsychotic = 3 (6%) • Benzodiazepine = 3 (6%) • Stimulant = 2 (4%) “Most school shooters were not previously treated with psychotropic medications—and even when they were, no direct or causal association was found.”
Potential “Causes” of Mass Shootings • Antidepressants • Autism • Music, Marilyn Manson • Video games • Revenge, narcissism, desire for infamy
Antidepressant Use in U.S. 2011–2014 (National Center for Health Stats, 2017) • 12.7% age 12 and over • - 16.5% women • - 8.6% men • 16.6% age 40 to 59 • 19.1% age 60 and over
Socio-Cultural Factors • News coverage • Social media • Western cultural “script” (Mullen)
Jerem emy (Pearl J Jam, 1992) 1992) Jere eremy spok poke in class toda today Jere eremy spok poke in class toda today Try Try to to forge orget th this, Try Try to to era erase th this, From the blackb kboa oard. rd.
Pu Pumped Up Up Kic icks (Fost ster t the he People, 2011) 2011) Al All the other k r kids w with the p pumped-up k kicks You b better ru r run, better ru r run, outru run m my gun Al All the other k r kids w with the p pumped-up k kicks You b better ru r run, better ru r run Faster r than m my b bullet
“Columbine Kid” “A kid who has the potential to become a school shooter. Usually socially outcast and depressed.” e.g.: “Dan has no friends and people make fun of him all the time. He may become a Columbine Kid.”
Media Attention Mass Shooters vs. Celebrities (Lankford, 2018) Media Coverage Less More
Herostratus (or Erostratus) • 4 th cent BC Greek arsonist • Destroyed Temple of Artemis
Tragic Anti-Hero Script 1. Perception of ruined social identity 2. Reclaim identity via revenge 3. Dramatic/theatrical nature 4. Violent bid for public validation & “justice” ( I’m right—society’s wrong ) “Humanity has rejected me… Exacting my Retribution is my way of proving my true worth to the world”
Gun Laws • Gun-Violence Restraining Order • NICS Background Check • Relies on police judgment • Inconsistent reporting • Population bias? • Legal purchases only • Doesn’t rely on Dx • “Mental Defectives” only
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Acad Med, 2019) (Rapid, focused response when risk is imminent) Synonyms: • Red flag laws • Risk-based gun removal • Gun violence restraining order (GVRO) • Extreme risk protection order (ERPO) • Domestic violence restraining order (DVRO)
Risk ‐ Based Firearm Removal Laws Recognize persons at risk: 1) Have ready access to firearms 2) Fluctuate in risk over time 3) Not at risk simply because of mental illness
Conclusions Warning behaviors & leakage Threat assessment teams Risk-based firearm removal laws Few mass shooters are psychotic Socio-cultural factors: media, script Suicide prevention initiatives?
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