A comparative analysis of North American adolescent and adult mass murderers

Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on both offender and offense variables to delineate similarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting‐out personality traits. Predisposing fact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral sciences & the law 2004-01, Vol.22 (3), p.291-309
Main Authors: Meloy, J. Reid, Hempel, Anthony G., Gray, B. Thomas, Mohandie, Kris, Shiva, Andrew, Richards, Thomas C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Adult
Adults
Age differences
Comparative analysis
Comparative studies
Criminal Psychology
Criminology
Female
Homicide - psychology
Humans
Male
Mass murders
Middle Aged
Multiple murder
North America
Obsession
Offenders
Psychiatric profiles
Teenagers
United States
Wars
Weapons
Young offenders
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Summary:Thirty adult mass murderers and 34 adolescent mass murderers in North America are compared on both offender and offense variables to delineate similarities and differences. Findings indicate a plethora of psychiatric disturbances and odd/reclusive and acting‐out personality traits. Predisposing factors include a fascination with weapons and war among many of the adolescents and the development of a “warrior mentality” in most of the adults. Precipitating factors indicate a major rejection or loss in the hours or days preceding the mass murder. Results are interpreted through the lens of threat assessment for targeted violence (Borum, Fein, Vossekuil, & Bergland 1999), recognizing that a fact‐based, dynamic behavioral approach is most useful for mitigating risk of such an extremely low‐base‐rate violent crime. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0735-3936
1099-0798
DOI:10.1002/bsl.586