"The point of a story can penetrate far deeper than the point of any bullet."

~ Lawrence Nault - The Mountain Hermit

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Psychology of school shootings


School shootings have in past few decade become topical all over the world. As an example, just this spring there was a school shooting in Orivesi in Finland (luckily no one didn't get killed) althought the shooter weren't a real school shooter as doctor Peter Langman defines them. Langman's definition in his book Why Kids Kill. Inside the Minds of School Shooters contains only shooters who have a clear connection to the school they're attacking (in the real world this means they're or have studied there).
   Langman has acquainted himself to the possible school shooters in his job as a children's psychologist. He have also gotten to know the school shooters who have bring off their cruel aim. Langman has divided ten American shooter to three different category: psychopathic, psychotic and traumatized shooters. He also introduce some of the patients he has had who may would have attacted their schools.
   The topic is hot and interesting and text has been popularized. Some times maybe even a bit too much. The categorizing seems slightly artificial, especially with such complex thing as this. Langman himself admit there isn't one pattern how someone become a school shooter or an easy way to identify a possible one. That is why the society should invest in supporting youngsters.
   Peter Langman's book is for people who are interested in the subject, but don't want a too scientific description.

Mark: 7-

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