Cumulative Strain Theory
The development of sophisticated theories to explain why school shootings occur is a new area of research and before the 1990s, few theories on school rampage shootings existed (Rocque, 2012). In examining theories to address this health issue, consideration will be given to “Cumulative Strain Theory” to explain how school shootings occur and “Attachment Theory” to address the recovery of victimized youth in the wake of a school shooting.
Cumulative Strain Theory. In 2009, Cumulative Strain Theory, which combines Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, and Routine Activities Theory, was proposed by Levin and Madfis (2009) to explain mass murder committed by students at their schools. Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, and Routine Activities …show more content…
Traumatized shooters are those who have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and have suffered a stressor that led to their decision to engage in a school shooting. Mitchell Johnson (age 13 at the time of shooting) engaged in a school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1998 (Langman, 2009). A discussion of Johnson, a traumatized shooter, allows the introduction of Strain Theory, our first origin theory. Strain Theory is often applied to explain the onset of criminal behavior by connecting child maltreatment to delinquent behavior. This theory looks at childhood victimization as a negative stimulus that results in a source of frustration, particularly for youth who do not see a way to legally escape their situation. The stress results in negative emotions, including feelings of depression, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness causing the youth to reduce, minimize, or escape from the strain through the development of coping mechanisms. Those who lack the ability to cope with the levels of strain experienced in their lives can sometimes turn to criminal behaviors (Iratzoqui, 2015). Johnson came from a fragmented family in which his father, who had alcoholism, was mean-tempered, explosive, and a tough disciplinarian who abused and terrorized his son. In addition, an older boy raped Johnson repeatedly over a period of several years (Langman,
Cumulative Strain Theory. In 2009, Cumulative Strain Theory, which combines Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, and Routine Activities Theory, was proposed by Levin and Madfis (2009) to explain mass murder committed by students at their schools. Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, and Routine Activities …show more content…
Traumatized shooters are those who have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and have suffered a stressor that led to their decision to engage in a school shooting. Mitchell Johnson (age 13 at the time of shooting) engaged in a school shooting in Jonesboro, Arkansas in 1998 (Langman, 2009). A discussion of Johnson, a traumatized shooter, allows the introduction of Strain Theory, our first origin theory. Strain Theory is often applied to explain the onset of criminal behavior by connecting child maltreatment to delinquent behavior. This theory looks at childhood victimization as a negative stimulus that results in a source of frustration, particularly for youth who do not see a way to legally escape their situation. The stress results in negative emotions, including feelings of depression, fear, anxiety, and hopelessness causing the youth to reduce, minimize, or escape from the strain through the development of coping mechanisms. Those who lack the ability to cope with the levels of strain experienced in their lives can sometimes turn to criminal behaviors (Iratzoqui, 2015). Johnson came from a fragmented family in which his father, who had alcoholism, was mean-tempered, explosive, and a tough disciplinarian who abused and terrorized his son. In addition, an older boy raped Johnson repeatedly over a period of several years (Langman,