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school shootings

·April 24, 2025·5 min read

Gun Culture a Key Factor in School Shooter Backgrounds

A comprehensive analysis of all known U.S. school shootings reveals that most shooters grew up in social environments where guns were a central part of family bonding and identity. These cultural meanings of affection, fun, and belonging made firearms easily accessible to the shooters—often without barriers at home. In many cases, parents purchased the firearms used or stored them in places their children could reach.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·October 31, 2022·4 min read

Mass School Shootings Are Not Caused by Mental Illness

Most perpetrators of mass school shootings do not suffer from severe mental illness, a new study reports. When psychosis is present, mass murderers in an academic setting use means other than firearms to commit their crimes. Consistent with previous findings, the majority of mass school shooters are male and caucasian, and almost half of school shooting episodes end with the perpetrator's suicide.

This shows a sad little boy sitting on a beach looking at the sea

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 28, 2022·3 min read

Coping With School Shootings

In the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, psychologists report on the best way to address such tragedies to young children and explore how to help teachers and those directly affected by the events.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 16, 2019·5 min read

Violent video games blamed more often for school shootings by white perpetrators

Video games are often blamed as a cause of mass shootings, especially if the perpetrator is white. When it comes to perpetrators of other racial backgrounds, people are more likely to assume they are involved in violent criminal activities. Blaming gaming for school shootings perpetrated by white people, and thereby providing an unfounded excuse for their actions, is a sign of a larger racial issue. Similar excuses aren't extended to people of other racial backgrounds. Instead, they are viewed as more culpable for their crimes.

Featured Psychology

·May 26, 2018·4 min read

Peer Rejection Isn’t the Culprit Behind School Shootings

Researchers report people should look more deeply into the environmental factors and mental health issues surrounding those involved in school shootings, and not simply blame peer rejection.

Featured Psychology

·April 20, 2018·3 min read

Study Shows Rapid Rise in Mass School Shootings in the US

A new study reveals alarming trends related to the growing number of school shootings in the US. Since 2000, there have been more deaths related to school shootings than in the entire 20th Century, researchers report.