When Will We Learn Childhood Is Key?

Research is in and what happens to children as they grow and develop has a major influence on the adult they will become. Safety, security, and guidance matters to the developing human. We must put an end to exposing our children to "come what may" without ensuring an opportunity for healing. 

We have dealt with killings in various forms in our society throughout time. We were once fascinated by serial killers and are now shocked by mass shooters. But, where did these killers in our society originate?

Many serial killers are survivors of early CHILDHOOD trauma of some kind – physical or sexual abuse, FAMILY dysfunction, and emotionally distant or absent PARENTS. TRAUMA is the single recurring theme in the biographies of most KILLERS. The number one trait of a killer or psychopath is a lack of empathy. Other traits are a tendency to lie, a need for thrills. Psychopaths become bored very quickly – and have a tendency towards narcissism. But the lack of empathy is the biggest thing for killers.

One common explanation is that psychopaths experience some kind of trauma in early CHILDHOOD – perhaps as early as their infant state – and as a consequence suppress their emotional response. They never learn the appropriate responses to trauma, and never develop other emotions, which is why they find it difficult to empathize with others. Science Daily “Psychology may help explain why male and female serial killers differ” March 20, 2019,

Now we are facing an onslaught of mass shooters and research regarding the reasons for these mass shooting is still being evaluated and researched but data is being compiled. Two professors, Jillian Peterson, an associate professor of criminology at Hamline University, and James Densley, a professor of criminal justice at Metro State University, discovered there’s a consistent pathway leading to mass shooters. Early CHILDHOOD trauma seems to be the foundation, whether violence in the home, sexual assault, parental suicides, or extreme bullying. Then you see the build toward hopelessness, despair, isolation, self-loathing, and oftentimes rejection from peers that turns into an identifiable crisis point where they’re acting differently. Sometimes mass shooters have previous suicide attempts. Their self-hate can turn into hate of a grouping of people resulting in mass shooting.

Suicidality was found to be a strong predictor of perpetration of mass shootings. Of all mass shooters in the The Violence Project database, 30% were suicidal prior to the shooting. An additional 39% were suicidal during the shooting. Those numbers were significantly higher for YOUNGER shooters, with K-12 students who engaged in mass shootings found to be suicidal in 92% of instances and college/university students who engaged in mass shooting suicidal 100% of the time.

In terms of past trauma, 31% of persons who perpetrated mass shootings were found to have experiences of severe CHILDHOOD trauma, and over 80% were in crisis.

Trauma was a common element of the backgrounds of those committing mass shooting, both in the database and the qualitative studies. Nearly half of individuals who engaged in mass shootings (48%) leaked their plans in advance to others, including family members, friends, and colleagues, as well as strangers and law enforcement officers. Legacy tokens, such as manifestos, were left behind by 23.4% of those who committed mass shootings. About 70% of individuals who perpetrated mass shooting knew at least some of their victims.

A new Department of Justice-funded study of all mass shootings — killings of four or more people in a public place — since 1966 found that the shooters typically have an experience with CHILDHOOD trauma, a personal crisis or specific grievance, and a “script” or examples that validate their feelings or provide a roadmap. And then there’s the fourth thing: access to a firearm.

Another pattern of mass shooters is becoming evident and in time I am sure will also be linked to CHILDHOOD trauma. Based on case documents, media reports, and interviews with mental health and law enforcement experts, found that in at least 22 mass shootings since 2011—more than a third of the public attacks over the past eight years—the perpetrators had a history of domestic violence, which specifically targeted WOMEN, or had stalked and harassed women. These cases included the large-scale massacres at an Orlando nightclub in 2016 and a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017. In total, they account for 175 victims killed and 158 others injured. Two of the shooters bore the hallmarks of so-called “incels”—a subculture of virulent misogynists who self-identify as “involuntarily celibate” and voiced their rage and revenge fantasies against women online. A man who recently planned to carry out a mass shooting in Utah and another who opened fire outside a courthouse in Dallas also appeared to be influenced by incel ideas.

Among the 22 cases analyzed, 86% has a history of domestic violence, 32% had a history of stalking and harassment, and 50% specifically targeted women. The trail of violent misogyny and abusive behavior in many shooters’ cases dovetails with a key finding from research published by the FBI in 2018: Not only do most shooters give off multiple behavioral warning signs that are observable to people around them, a majority do so starting months and even years before their attacks. The shooters in Tallahassee, Chicago, Orlando, Sutherland Springs, and elsewhere BRUTALIZED women long before their gun rampages. Mother Jones, “Armed and Misogynist: How Toxic Masculinity Fuels Mass Shootings”, Mark Follman.

A Harvard University study showed convicted physically abusive men were found to, when compared to the average American man, commit more crimes as well as:

• Have lower levels of education and IQ; be less clear-thinking
• Be more neurotic, anxious, nervous and defensive
• Be less agreeable, optimistic, content and more irritable
• Be less extraverted, conscientious and open
• Be less self-confident
• Be more excitable, moody, hasty and self-centered
• Be more authoritarian

Men who commit domestic violence may be found among a larger pool of men with poor problem-solving skills, but in addition they appear to have borderline-antisocial personality traits, certain types of hostility, and histories of abuse as CHILDREN that may predispose them to become violent with their female companions. Here are some of the reasons a person is abusive:

1. They have a disorder: A small number of the population is anti-social personality disorder (sociopath or psychopath) and sadistic. These disorders gain pleasure from seeing others in pain and even more pleasure when they are the ones inflicting the agony. For them, abuse is a means to an end. They abuse others to gain personal pleasure.
2. They were abused: Some abusers act out their dysfunctional behavior on others because it was done to them. In a subconscious effort to resolve their own abuse, they do the same to another person. This type of abusive behavior is identical, meaning it matches almost exactly to their childhood experience.
3. They were abused, part two: Just like in the previous explanation, they abuse because it was done to them. However, in this case the victim is the opposite. For instance, a boy who is sexually abused by a man might grow up to sexually abuse girls as evidence that they are not homosexual. The reverse can be true as well.
4. They watched something: With the advances in technology comes additional exposure at a young age to glorified abuse. Some movies, songs, TV shows, and videos minimize abuse by making fun of it or making it seem normal. A typical example is verbally attacking on another person by name calling or belittling.
5. They have anger issues: Uncontrolled and unmanaged rage frequently produces abusive behavior. The source of this anger varies but it is usually tied to a traumatic event. Unresolved trauma sparks anger when triggered by a person, circumstance, or place. Because this anger comes out of nowhere, it that much harder to control and manifests abusively.
6. They grew up with an addict: An addict blames others for the reason they engage in their destructive behavior. While the victims are often forced to remain silent and acceptant of their behavior. The end result is a lot of pent-up anger and abusive behavior. As an adult, the victim subconsciously seeks out others to blame for their actions.
7. They have control issues: Some people like to be in charge. In an effort to gain or remain in control of others, they utilize inefficient means of dominance such as bullying or intimidation. While forced control can be quickly executed, it does not have lasting qualities. True leadership is void of abusive techniques.
8. They don’t understand boundaries: Abusive people tend to lack the understanding of where they end and another person begins. They see their spouse/child/friend as an extension of themselves and therefore that person is not entitled to have any boundaries. The lack of distance means a person is subject to whatever the abuser decides.
9. They are afraid: People who do and say things out of fear tend to use their emotions as justification for why another person needs to do what is demanded. It is as if the fear is so important or powerful that nothing else matters except what is needed to subdue it.

10.         10. They lack empathy: It is far easier to abuse others when there is no empathy for how the victim            might feel. Some types of head trauma, personality disorders, and environmental traumas can               cause a person to lack the ability to express empathy.

11. They have a personality disorder: Just because a person has a personality disorder does not mean that they will be abusive. However, the lack of an accurate perception of reality greatly contributes to abusive behavior. If a person is unable to see their behavior as abusive, then they will keep doing it.
12. They are exhausted: When a person reaches the end of rope, it is not uncommon for them to lash out at whoever is conveniently close. Think of it as a mental breakdown where all the things stuffed inside come pouring out usually in a destructive rather than constructive manner.
13. They are defensive: Defense mechanisms such as denial, projection, regression, and suppression are utilized when a person is backed into a corner. Instead of taking space, they come out swinging and retaliate in an abusive manner.

An abusive person may have some or all of these qualities depending on the circumstances. Remember, this is not about justifying their behavior; rather it is about helping victims to understand why a person might be abusive. We must begin to take note of the way and enviroment in which our future adults are being raised. CHILDHOOD MATTERS.