Case 5 Flashcards
- What types of multiple and mass violence can be distinguished
Individual or 2/3 persons
› Mass murder (committed at time piont)
- defined operationally as a criminal homicide claiming four or more victims (not including the perpetrator in the event of a mass murder/suicide)
- within a single event, lasting but a few minutes or as long as several hours
› Spree killing (short period of time)
› Serial killing (longer, extended time)
Genocide
Collective violence/Mass violence
can lead to genocide, important to distinguish between different types of violence to assess the different origins of them and how we can influence/stop them
Terrorism
terrorism is symbolic and seeks to undermine the authority of the dominant power, but lacks the military strength to overthrow the government
obtain a political, religious, or ideological goal through fear and intimidation
It is a criminal act that is often symbolic in intent
- What motivates mass violence?
three types:
predisposers: long-term and stable preconditions that become incorporated into the personality of the killer;
precipitants: short-term and acute triggers, that is, cata- lysts; and
facilitators: conditions, usually situational, that increase the likelihood of a violent outburst but are not necessary to produce that response
- Predisposers: frustration and externalization of blame middle aged bc. Years of accumulation of frustration
- Precipitants: th long-term frustration and an angry, blameful mind-set, certain situations or events precipitate or trigger violent rage
- In most instances, the killer experiences a sudden loss or the threat of a loss, which from his point of view is catastrophic
- The loss typically involves an unwanted separation from loved ones or termination from employm - Facilitators: increase both the likelihood and extent of violence
- Isolated from emotional support
- “loners”
Difficult life conditions in society, group conflict and self-interest (combined with other factors, such as devaluation) can lead to collective violence and then to utilitarian genocide
Group conflict as one origin for collective violence
Past victimization of a group and the unhealed wounds that result, are also important contributors to genocide and mass killing
Without healing, group feels diminished and vulnerable, see the world as dangerous, danger group with whom they have conflict with will respond with violence
Experience their response with violence as necessary and as a self-defense
- What are characteristics of offenders who commit different types of mass violence?
- Serial killer: “extraordinarily ordinary” White male in his late 20s-30stargets strangers near his work or homeOften sociopathic: disorder of the character/personality rather than the mind–> Lacks conscience, feels no remorse and cares exclusively for his own pleasures in lifeMale serial killers: select victims on basis of some sexual fantasy including power and controlFemale serial killers: choose victims they have some kind of relationship with (most often in which the victim is dependent on them)Serial killers often tie up their victims, rape, mutilate, sodomize, and degrade their victimsthey hardly ever use firearms
- Behavior is driven by fantasy and the fantasy itself becomes altered and reinforced through commiting offenses –> Never ending spiral of image and action
- Many serial killers collect souvenirs to still get pleasure between crimes
- Disorganized killer: less intelligent, socially and sexually inadequate, of low birth order, unskilled worker, nonmobile, lives alone, minimal interest in the news reports of his crimes. tends to use no restreaints, leaves the body in full view, leaves weapon at the scene, molests the victim after death, spontaneous in his manner of killing
- Mass Murderer:
- Random victims
- Well prepared (almost professional)
- Collective violence or genocide
- Group with strong leader (collective identity)
- Economical, religious, political, geographical conflicts
- What are differences between serial killers and mass killers?
Mass murder (committed at one time point): 4 or more homicides in one occasion through 1 or more persons, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours (e.g. father who kills whole family and then himself) Characteristics: random victims, professional and well prepared, lone wolves, childhood problems, sees themselves as victims, out of touch with reality, psychotic break, likely to be male (94,4%), likely to be white (62,9%), often revenge motivated
Serial killing (longer time): 4 or more homicides, committed by one or a few offenders, in a period of days, weeks, months or years (nurse who poisons patients, Ted Bundy). Characteristics: gravity of the crimes develops, preparation of the crimes, control during the crimes, one victim type, killing as addiction, often have a family life, collection of souvenirs, some want to be involved in the police inquiry, cooling off period, skillfull in presentation of self therefore avoiding suspicion. Typically a white male in his late twenties or thirties who targets strangers at or near his place of residence or work.
- What is a killing spree?
a category sometimes used to identify cases of multiple homicide that do not fit neatly into either the serial or mass murder types; murdered over a short period of time; no “cooling-off periods”; different locations, e.g. Anders Behring Breivik (who first killed people in Oslo, and short thereafter on Utøya)
- What are factors leading to genocide or collective violence?
- -> group cohesion
- extreme conformity and strict obedience
- shared goals
- sense of unity
- clearly distinguishable
- dissemination and dissemination of responsibility
- blaming and dehumanizing victims
- -> genocide
- monopolization of power (who will have power and who will rule)
- difficult life conditions
- group conflict
- self-interest
- difficult life-conditions and their psychological/ social effects
- evolution of increasing violence can end in mass killings or genocide
- a history of devaluation, very strong respect for authority
Difficult life conditions in society, group conflict and self-interest (combined with other factors, such as devaluation) can lead to collective violence and then to utilitarian genocide
Group conflict as one origin for collective violence
Past victimization of a group and the unhealed wounds
- What is Terrorism?
terrorism is symbolic and seeks to undermine the authority of the dominant power, but lacks the military strength to overthrow the government
obtain a political, religious, or ideological goal through fear and intimidation
It is a criminal act that is often symbolic in intent
it purposefully violated the rules of “just war,” by targeting civilians, using means such as beheading designed to horrify, and the randomness of the act in terms of time and place, all of which are purposefully designed to terrorize
- How do terrorists perceive themselves and others
They don’t perceive themselves as a terrorist. Its more the belief that they are fighting for. They are messengers for what they belief. Those who don’t share the philosophies are their enemies. ‘collective identity’ above individual identity
Adolescence and youth is a period of experimentation, of identity formation, of a struggle for autonomy, and a time of dealing with issues of intimacy
Perr culture influential
Muslim adolescents seeking to consolidate their identity
“It’s not us, it’s them. They are responsible for our problems.” it is not only not immoral to strike out against them, but becomes a moral imperative, especially when it is cast as a sacred obligation
- Before entering the final pathway of suicide terrorism, the youth enter a path of radicalization
- What are the consequences of different types of mass violence for victims and their families
Complex loss: there are to types:
- Non-violent complex loss (natural disasters, accidents)
- Violent or man made loss (murder, manslaughter, suïcide)
Complex loss can turn into complex grief (a complex loss not necessary leads to complex grief), because of the traumatic loss (MH17). Man made loss is very sudden/unexpected, there is a lot of media-attention, the families were unable to visit the place, bodies weren not intact
Bereaved people of non-natural causes of death have to deal with:
The loss The cause of death The loss x the cause (interaction)
Complex Grief: >12 months after loss: - intense yearning to the lost person - difficulty accepting the loss - preoccupation with (circumstances around) the loss - serious problems in daily functioning
- How do victims and bereaved individuals cope with the consequences of (different types of) mass violence?
avoidant responses
→ anxious avoidance of stimuli reminiscent of the loss
→ depressive avoidance of activities that could foster adjustment
- What is resilience?
The process of adapting while in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or even significant sources of stress. Not a trait, but behaviors, thoughts or actions that you develop. Genetic aspect –> neuroplasticity process.
The behaviours, thoughts, or actions for resilience:
→ Coping with negative emotions
→ Focus on things you have influence on
→ Learn from experiences
→ Develop Self-assurance
→ Learn to cope with frustration
→ Have a resilient view → Accepting worldview
→ Not avoiding people/confrontation
→ Do not perceive everything as personal injustice
→ value positive memories
- What are effective coping skills to deal with victimization by mass violence?
Put less attention on offender to get out of the victim role (No offender → No victim)
Focus on normal life
Resilience and Self-help
Worden’s Tasks of mourning:
- Accept the reality of the loss
- Work through the pain of grief
- Adjust to an environment where the deceased is missing
- Find an enduring connection with the deceased while embarking on a new life
- What is grief?
The anguished experience after significant loss. Usually after the death of a loved one. Difference between mourning and bereavement. Often includes physiological distress, separation anxiety, confusion, yearning, obsessive dwelling of the past and apprehension about the future.
- What is complicated grief?
Complicated Grief” refers to grief reactions and feelings of loss that are debilitating, long lasting, and/or impair your ability to engage in daily activities.
For some people, feelings of loss are debilitating and don’t improve even after time passes. This is known as complicated grief, sometimes called persistent complex bereavement disorder. In complicated grief, painful emotions are so long lasting and severe that you have trouble recovering from the loss and resuming your own life.
During the first few months after a loss, many signs and symptoms of normal grief are the same as those of complicated grief. However, while normal grief symptoms gradually start to fade over time, those of complicated grief linger or get worse. Complicated grief is like being in an ongoing, heightened state of mourning that keeps you from healing.
- Intense sorrow, pain, and rumination over the loss of your loved one
- Focus on little else but your loved one’s death
- Extreme focus on reminders of the loved one or excessive avoidance of reminders
- Intense and persistent longing or pining for the deceased
- Problems accepting the death
- Numbness or detachment
- Bitterness about your loss
As with many mental health disorders, it may involve your environment, your personality, inherited traits, and your body’s natural chemical makeup
Risk factors: complicated grief occurs more often in females and with older age. Factors that may increase the risk of developing complicated grief include:
- An unexpected or violent death, such as death from a car accident, or the murder or suicide of a loved one
- What are beneficial and non-beneficial reactions of victims of mass violence
in general it’s better to process than to avoid (identify and change negative thoughts + integration of the loss in ones autobiographic memory)
beneficial reactions: establish meaning, connect with others, attach, grief, being leaf-taking, less attention on offender –> get out of victim position
non-beneficial: meaningless, isolate, detach, avoid (grief or confrontation), clinging
-emotions of anger, guilt and shame are difficult to cope with
Also non-beneficial: Revenge, Rumination, giving up hope
-examples for blocking, non-beneficial beliefs:
›I am not able to live with this lost, Not until the offenders will be punished I will be able to
function again., Not until I can take revenge I will be able to live again.
