Education

Signs To Watch

September 13, 2000 1 min read
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The following are some of the factors that were commonly found in the school-shooting cases analyzed by the FBI.
Student Personality Traits and Behaviors
Hints at violent acts
Easily frustrated
Poor coping skills
Lack of resiliency
Failed love relationship
Holds grudges over
perceived injustices
Depression
Narcissim
Alienation
Attitude of superiority
Lack of empathy
Innappropriate humor
Negative role models
Fascination with
violence-filled
entertainment
Change in behavior
Manipulative of others
Drawn to negative role
models like Satan or
Hitler
Family Dynamics
Turbulent parent-child relationship
Family lacks closeness
Access to weapons
No limits on monitoring television or
Internet use
School Dynamics
Student is detached from school
Tolerance for disrespectful behavior
Inflexible school culture
Pecking order among students
Code of silence
Unsupervised computer access
Inequitable treatment of students
Social Dynamics
Student’s peers are fascinated by violent
or extremist behavior
Use of drugs and alcohol
Intensely exclusive peer group
SOURCE: “The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Protocol,” Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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