School Shootings:

What leads to school shootings?

There have been 3 main academic perspectives that explain why this phenomena may occur. The first one being violence in the media can increase violence, second is the school environment creates exclusion, and the last one being something called the copy cat Phenomenon.

1. The media can increase violence

Can the media really cause an increase in violence? The media causing an increase in violence is a very controversial topic. Whenever we turn on the TV or watch a movie at a movie theater you will most often see violence there. Nearly two thirds of tv programs contain at least some form of physical violence. One of the major concerns is violence in video games that contain too much violent content for children.

Bobo Doll experiment

The bobo doll experiment was done to test and see if violence can occur if watching violence in the media. The experiment involved someone abusing a doll and wanted to see if when the children watches someone abusing the doll will they do the same? They wanted to see if the same effects are applied to watching violence in the media.

2. The school environment creates exclusion

When looking at school shooters it is also important to look at the shooters experience inside of the school. Many of school shooters have suffered from being bullied inside of the school.

Today we are living in a society where people will frown upon those that may seem different. Everyone’s experience at a school has witnessed students that just do not fit in into groups that the students create. A lot of these kids that do not fit in do not know that being isn’t really a bad thing but when facing intense bullying can push a kid over the line.

3. Copy cat phenomenon

Another phenomenon that may influence a school shooting can be due to media coverage inspiring that person to copy cat a mass shooting. Many violent events are often covered by the media and stories often spread widely in different ways such as other media outlets such as social media or hearing people talk about the stories the news has covered.

Many experts believe that some of these media coverages on violence can inspire others to re create these crimes in a similar manner. When shooters are covered in the media they receive tons of attention, their name, face picture and story is shared everywhere. Some people strive to receive this type of attention and will do anything to get it.

In the media, school shootings tend to get the most attention. Whenever an incident happens it is spread through mass media and social media and they lay out the shooters motivations as to why he did what he did.

Student shooter profile
1. Lack of skills to solve social problems

2. Lack of empathy and poor anger control
3. Sense of superiority
4. Negative ‘schemata’ of others
5. 3⁄4 suffers from depression or suicidal thoughts
6. 3⁄4 experienced direct bullying or victimization

SOURCES:

“Does Media Coverage Inspire Copy Cat Mass Shootings?” National Center for Health Research, 5 Sept. 2019, http://www.center4research.org/copy-cats-kill/.

Chatterjee, Rhitu. “Mass Shootings Can Be Contagious, Research Shows.” NPR, NPR, 6 Aug. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/08/06/748767807/mass-shootings-can-be-contagious-research-shows.

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