Mass Murder at School and Cumulative Strain

A Sequential Model

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3757845
AutoresJack Levin (0000-0003-0965-0790, Northeastern University), Eric Madfis (0000-0002-7475-3465, Northeastern University)
Año2009
Volumen52
Número9
Páginas1227-1245
Fecha de publicación2009-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764209332543
OpenAlexW2071415638
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas53
Referencias citadas38

To explain the genesis of mass murder committed by students at their schools, the authors propose a five-stage sequential model in which several criminological theories (strain theory, control theory, and routine activities theory) are brought to bear collectively to demonstrate their cumulative effect. These stages are as follows: chronic strain, uncontrolled strain, acute strain, the planning stage, and the massacre. Long-term frustrations (chronic strains) experienced early in life or in adolescence lead to social isolation, and the resultant lack of prosocial support systems (uncontrolled strain) in turn allows a short-term negative event (acute strain), be it real or imagined, to be particularly devastating. As such, the acute strain initiates a planning stage, wherein a mass killing is fantasized about as a masculine solution to regain lost feelings of control, and actions are taken to ensure the fantasy can become reality. The planning process concludes in a massacre facilitated by weapons that enable mass destruction in schoolrooms and campuses, where students are closely packed together. Based on this analysis, prevention strategies are suggested

Criminology · Fantasy · Feeling · Isolation (microbiology) · Prosocial behavior · Strain (injury) · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence