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THIS WAS THE TOPIC
Situations involving active shooters in schools have increased in recent years. Researchers define an active shooter incident as an occurrence where one or more individuals take part in an ongoing, random, or systematic shooting spree with the objective of multiple or mass murders. Evidence suggests that mental instability, social isolation, a self-perception of catastrophic loss, and access to weapons play a role in the identification of the shooter in a school shooting incident. Describe and explain six characteristics common in these offenders.
Ceilan Ojeda Gonzalez
Active Shooter Characteristics.
School shootings are tragic events that have increased in frequency in recent years. Active shooters in schools are often young men who exhibit several common characteristics. These characteristics can help to identify and prevent school shootings before they occur. One common characteristic is the history of mental illness. Many shooters have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues. In some cases, they may have an account of being bullied or feeling isolated from their peers, which may result in violent behavior or criminal activity.
Another characteristic of school shooters is a sense of social isolation or rejection. Many shooters have few close friends or social connections. They may feel like outsiders or don’t fit in with their peers. This sense of social disconnection can lead to feelings of anger, resentment, and a desire for revenge. In addition, self-perception of catastrophic loss also influences how a person reacts. Shooters may feel they have nothing to lose or that their lives are worthless. They may feel like they have been unfairly treated or denied the opportunities they deserve. This sense of injustice can fuel anger and a desire for revenge (Goodwill et al., 2019).
Further, most shooters have previous disciplinary issues, including suspension or expulsion from school, involvement in fights, or other aggressive behavior. These individuals may have a history of engaging in violent or threatening behavior, which may have been ignored or downplayed by school authorities or law enforcement. They tend to have an obsession with violence, including violent movies, video games, or other media. They may be fascinated with previous mass shootings, including the Virginia Tech shooting, which is often cited as an inspiration for other school shootings (Dahmen & Nicole, 2018).
Lastly, a lack of empathy is another characteristic of active shooters. These individuals may lack the ability to empathize with others, making committing violent acts easier. They may also lack remorse for their actions and view their victims as expendable (Livingston, 2019). In conclusion, while no single characteristic can predict whether someone will become a school shooter, these six characteristics can help identify individuals at risk for committing such acts.
References.
Dahmen, N. S. (2018). Visually reporting mass shootings: US newspaper photographic coverage of three mass school shootings. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(2), 163-180.
Goodwill, A., & Meloy, J. R. (2019). Visualizing the relationship among indicators for lone actor terrorist attacks: Multidimensional scaling and the TRAP‐18. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 37(5), 522-539.
Livingston, M. D., Rossheim, M. E., & Hall, K. S. (2019). A descriptive analysis of school and school shooter characteristics and the severity of school shootings in the United States, 1999–2018. Journal of Adolescent Health, 64(6), 797-799.
