Profile of a rampage killer
Last updated: Monday, July 25, 2011 PrintA 32-year-old Norwegian man, Anders Breivik, has been arrested for allegedly killing almost 100 people in a bomb explosion and an attack on a youth camp.
Read Cybershrink's comments on rampage killers.
What sort of person can do something like this? This is what research has shown:
- Over 50% of rampage killers have a history of mental illness and around half of these have usually stopped taking their prescribed drugs prior to the rampage killing.
- Historically, most of the rampage killers are white men, although women, blacks and Asians are by no means unrepresented. The racial profile of rampage killers tends to reflect the profile of the general population.
- Many adult rampage killers have high levels of education (over a third of them have post-school qualifications), but most of them are unemployed at the time of the rampage killings.
- Rampage killers almost never try to get away – they mostly commit suicide at the scene of the crime, or allow themselves to be arrested. For this reason their mental state and stability are often unknown and patched together afterwards.
- Adult rampage killers often have a military background and they often use weapons they have obtained legally.
- Rampage killers mostly kill strangers, although the first one or two victims may be known to them.
- In 22 percent of cases a romantic issue, such as a divorce or a breakup, is the precipitating event that sets the rampage killer off. Forty-four percent of rampage killers are set off by an unexpected job loss. There is often prior evidence of rage that then explodes into homicide.
- Schools, malls, campuses, crowded places of work and trains seem to be the places rampage killers choose most frequently.
- Contrary to public perception, few rampage killers (only 6%) show much interest in violent video games.
- Adult rampage killers tend to act alone, unlike adolescents, who often rope in others to help them.
(Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated July 2011)
(Sources: Ford Fessenden for the New York Times (the study involved 102 cases); crimelibrary.com)
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Your Comments
Religion
How did you miss religion? The cause of 99% of mass killings we experience everyday in the news?
Religion
Amen to that ! Religion plays a massive part in almost all of these attacks.
You cant blame religion for anything
Just because this monster misintepreted the bible doesnt mean that religion is the cause of this attack. Its like blaming car companies for fatal accidents! Take time out and read the bible and then tell me if it ever preached to kill and maim?
Really crazy
How do you look 85 kids in the eyes and shoot them? This guy has to be really completely crazy.
@WTF
WTF,
I think you should re-read the Old Testament again. This time with a highlighter and mark each verse where he people are killed under his command. And this time don't try and rationalize it away.
his Title
he shall be referred to as " the Christian extremist Militant"
@WTF
Oh come on, just because the bible does not tell you to kill does not mean that religion has no baring on this sort of thing. Most atrocities in the past have been done in the name of religion. Catch a wake up, if it wasn't for people being so over-the-top regarding their faith which they believe is the ONLY belief worth living for then people wouldn't be willing to kill for their faith. Dont be blinded by or made ignorant by your beliefs, this is what us " non-believers" are saying to you!!
Religion and Belief
You could be forced into religion but belief takes a different approach.
If someone is stabbed to death with a spoon is it the spoon to blame that is used to feed millions of people or is it the person using it for his/her own gain?
Right winger
I can understand why he did what he did, these god damned liberal supporters drive me around the bend too. Their own countrymen and women are in despair but have to compete with immigrants who get pampered and treated like gods so that the lefties can look good
in his shoes...
Prof. M.A. Simpson, aka CyberShrink, is funny. People are so narrow minded. If you do not conform to the norm, you are an outcast! Anders Breivik had a valid reason in his mind. His mind obviously did not conjure this up one day and he decided to go on a rampage.This takes time and planning.
" Sources: Ford Fessenden for the New York Times.(the study involved 102 cases" RIGHT. Same as 1 out of every 5 men are rapest!?This is why I hate statistics!It is statistically impossible!temporary insanity
in his shoes...
Prof. M.A. Simpson, aka CyberShrink, is funny. People are so narrow minded. If you do not conform to the norm, you are an outcast! Anders Breivik had a valid reason in his mind. His mind obviously did not conjure this up one day and he decided to go on a rampage.This takes time and planning.
" Sources: Ford Fessenden for the New York Times.(the study involved 102 cases" RIGHT. Same as 1 out of every 5 men are rapest!?This is why I hate statistics!It is statistically impossible!temporary insanity
in his shoes...
Prof. M.A. Simpson, aka CyberShrink, is funny. People are so narrow minded. If you do not conform to the norm, you are an outcast! Anders Breivik had a valid reason in his mind. His mind obviously did not conjure this up one day and he decided to go on a rampage.This takes time and planning.
" Sources: Ford Fessenden for the New York Times.(the study involved 102 cases" RIGHT. Same as 1 out of every 5 men are rapest!?This is why I hate statistics!It is statistically impossible!temporary insanity
I think that he go the idea
I think that he go the idea from 'God', as represented in the the bible...'God' was the original mass murdered & murdured those who he could not indoctrinate.
Deuteronomy 20:10-14
Deuteronomy 13:12-18
I Samuel 6:19
And many MANY more!!!!!
Isolated
Apparently Breivik was quiet as a child and I'm pretty sure the outgoing extrovert is never going to do deeds like these. They isolate themselves and live in a fantasy world where they see themselves as superior to others
Fear?
Couldn't fear be a reason?
It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out.
Hi!
With some of you I agree, some I dont. I am Bipoler and have tourettes. Do you know how people treat you out there? Do you have any clue? If you have my emotions and feelings for just ten second you will die instantly! Your heart wont take it. People is the reason why those people is what they are. Maybe their parents where alcholics? It begins with the upbringing of a child. I have a degree in law, and my IQ is 142. People with mental illness is always underestimated. And rejected by humanity.
huh?
If 'most' are white men, and yet the profile represents the population, is this article written for the US, UK? Is that where most rampage killings happen?
huh 2?
and do most of these killings tend to happen in societies where individualism is promoted? The Westernized first world? I wonder how many happen in South America, Africa and Asia?
Evil Religion?
What about atheism? Wasn't Nazism based on Nietszche's Nihilism(Death of God), Pol Pot in Cambodia, Stalinism. Doesn't the abuse of Christianity and atheism tell us more about human nature than the ideology itself?
Godsdiens?
Hoezit.
To all you non-Believers and anti-God / Christian bashers here.. Suck it. I will pray to whom ever I will.
Secondly - Who made all these atheist devils " god" to judge who is Christian and who is not? My Bible says only my God has that right. (Sorry, your judgement carries no weight, as you are condemned by your own testimony.)
You (atheists) have no right to comment on Christianity as you are not Qualified to do so. Sorry, just stating the facts to selfrighteous boytjies. Groete.
How could you leave religion out?
Leaving religion out - invalidates your points
@Christian
Right back at you. I'm a deist, but not a Christian. Your Bible also carries no weight for non-Christians and you also don't have a right to comment on what others believe or don't believe. You are just as bad as some of these raging atheists. Julle moet mekaar maar hard bliksem. Groete, ne.
Religion
BTW, Freemasons are not " christians" . Having had family involved in that cult it is clear that their central teachings and beliefs are actually anti-christ and pro-satan. But don't just take my word for it though, do a little google searching and make up your own mind if being in a masonic lodge is compatible with being " christian" .
Relgion...
My opinion is that religion only really becomes the cause for these kind of rampages when individuals can't accept that each person has the right to choose their own beliefs.
Just because you believe in a certain faith doesn't mean that its the right faith and that everyone else should believe the same as you do. Whether you are Christian, Athiest, Muslim, Jew or whatever.. I'm really very happy for you, but don't expect me to conform just because you believe it is the right path.
Life is precious, this should never have happened
Whatever his Belief, after all is said and done, his day of reckoning will come.
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