Mass murder, typically described as four or more unlawful killings in a single event and location, is among the most heinous acts in which humans engage. In the United States, acts of mass murder, particularly mass shootings, sow fear among individuals and shape culture—and culture wars—more broadly.
The Psychology of Mass Murder
To the vast majority of us, it is unfathomable why someone would commit mass murder. Seeking to identify the motivation behind shootings may help us to better understand them, and sometimes, to stop them.
The individual motives for mass murder vary greatly. A common motivation is retaliation or revenge ; others include grandiosity and the desire for attention or fame. On rare occasion, a mass murder occurs when the perpetrator, who may be deeply troubled, suffers a psychotic break from reality and strikes out at his perceived tormentors.
Unlike serial killers , mass murderers are frequently, but not always, killed at the scene of the crime . Sometimes they are shot by law enforcement officers called to the scene, while other times mass murderers take their own lives in a final and deliberate act of suicide.
Mass murder is frequently an act of vengeance against society committed by a desperate and fatalistic individual who has no intention of going away quietly or returning to kill another day.
Mass Shootings and Mental Health
Mental illness is often deemed the culprit after a mass shooting. Yet research consistently demonstrates that there is a weak link between mass shootings and mental illness . Research also shows that people with mental illness are far more likely to be the victim of a violent crime than the perpetrator.
A study published in the journal Psychology, Public Policy, and Law examined the mental health histories of 176 mass shooters between 1966 and 2020. The research showed that psychosis was deemed to have played a major role in 11 percent of shootings, a moderate role in 9 percent of cases, and a minor role in 11 percent of cases. The role of psychosis in mass shootings has been relatively stable over time, even as the number of mass shootings has risen sharply in the past few years.
The results indicate that while mental illness is often blamed for the recent rise in mass shootings, psychosis alone doesn't appear to be a significant factor.
While not all murderers are psychopaths and not all psychopaths are murderers, psychopaths commit a disproportionate number of murders. Furthermore, murderers generally seem to have unusually high levels of psychopathic traits compared to most people. Psychopathic traits, such as lack of empathy, callousness, coldness, recklessness, and a criminal lifestyle facilitate the commission of the most horrific crimes.
Coping with Tragedy and Grief
Mass shootings encompass a wide array of experiences and emotions. Some lose loved ones. Some witness the horrors firsthand. Some grieve from afar, dealing with the secondhand emotions of grief , sadness, and anger.
Each person’s experience is unique. Biology, coping skills, past experiences, level of social and emotional support, and other factors impact the ability to cope and heal following a tragedy. For example, attending a support group for grieving families may be helpful and supportive for some yet stressful re-traumatizing for others.
Those affected by a mass shooting may feel irritable, sad, angry, anxious, shameful, regretful, or helpless, among other emotions. They may eventually feel stronger, empowered, or driven. They may weave in and out of these feelings at different points in time. They may feel like they were in a dream or altered state, as if they were detached from their body. Some people refer to it as an “out of body experience,” as if the experience was happening to someone else.
What people were directly exposed to and how it affected them will impact how they feel. If they lost a loved one, they may be going through various stages of grief. All people experience this differently, and there’s no right or wrong way to grieve.
Parenting After a Mass Shooting
“Parents don't need to be told how to talk to their children in the aftermath of mass shootings,” writes Psychology Today blogger Katherine Nguyen Williams, Ph.D. “They need to be told, with truth and confidence , that their children can go to school without being shot and killed while learning their fractions.”
And yet parents are forced to confront mass shootings with their children—again and again. They must think about how to explain mass shootings in age appropriate way, how to quell their child’s fears, and how to cope with their own emotions. A strong relationship with their parent is what helps children to persevere.
In the aftermath of a school shooting, parents should proactively communicate with and comfort their children. Steps include:
• Prepare for the discussion: Before you talk to a child or teenager , prepare what you want to share with them and what you don’t. Collect yourself so you can be calm, truthful, and authentic.
Explore More About Mass Shootings
For a comprehensive understanding of mass shootings, read our complete guide: