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School shootings: the social dynamics of mental disorder

In: Research Handbook on Society and Mental Health

Author

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  • Anne Nassauer

Abstract

What role does mental disorder play compared to societal factors in the emergence of school shootings? And how are the two connected? This study analyzes a full sample of rampage school shootings in the United States since the first shooting in 1966, using qualitative in-depth and cross- case analyses. Findings highlight that the interplay of mental disorders and societal factors is vital in a substantial subset of cases. The chapter identifies three distinct shooter types and shows that many shooters, especially the few BIPOC shooters in the sample, had limited access to mental health care in times of need, while troubled family histories, abuse, marginalization, and masculinity stereotypes put additional strains on them. Findings suggest that it is not the mental disorder itself, but the interplay of mental disorders with social dynamics in the United States that is crucial to understanding why school shootings occur.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Nassauer, 2022. "School shootings: the social dynamics of mental disorder," Chapters, in: Marta Elliott (ed.), Research Handbook on Society and Mental Health, chapter 14, pages 233-250, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:20327_14
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