From the Dark Psychology blog:
Research into the profiles of mass murderers, rampage killers and spree killers have yielded various traits, factors and emotional experiences. Although the terms to describe these violent offenders vary in definition and construct, there are common themes amongst a high percentage of these assailants, despite the verbiage used to describe their profiles.
The traits, affective states and behavioral patterns to follow are similar when comparing the Arizona Shooter, Jared Loughner, the Norwegian Mass Killer, Anders Breivik and many other mass killers throughout history. If James Holmes fits the profile of a classic mass killer, the clues, details and evidence of this tragedy will confirm his typology and shed light on his psychological state leading up to the Colorado Shooting. They are as follows:
1. Mass murderers tend to exhibit a gradual and/or noticeable change towards social withdrawal.
2. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he felt being treated unfairly, unheard and others did not prioritize his priorities as highly as he did.
3. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he felt being persecuted by others or groups leading him to become more paranoid and untrusting.
4. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he increasingly blamed others, other systems, other cultures or other political groups causing him stress and concern.
5. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he increasingly was experiencing extreme chronic stress causing him to feel a sense of powerlessness and helplessness.
6. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he increasingly was experiencing a lack of emotional support from friends and family, extreme disappointment, frustration and
failure.
7. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he was feeling an inability to cope with life and its disappointments or feeling that life had become hopeless.
8. Testimony by the mass murderer’s social supports or in his writings suggest he was planning, fantasizing and desired revenge against those who caused him some type of real or fictitious harm.
9. The majority of mass killers murder strangers
10. In a mass killer’s recent history, there is a triggering event such as a divorce, breakup, employment loss or academic failure that leads the assailant to conclude a mass killing is the answer.
11. Shopping centers, schools, malls, college campuses, and various other public places are arenas mass killers choose to display their violent assaults.
12. Adult mass killers tend to act alone. Adolescent assailants are more likely to involve other participants in their rampage.
13. Over 50% of mass killers have a history of documented mental illness.
14. Historically, mass killers tend to be male and Caucasian.
15. 1/3 of mass killers have high levels of education and are unemployed at the time of the rampage killings.
16. Mass killers rarely attempt to flee from the incident. Many of them commit suicide at the scene of the crime or allow themselves to be taken into custody.
17. Adult mass killers often have military backgrounds or are interested in the military and possess weapons they have obtained legally.
18. Most mass killers are single or divorced.
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