Mass Murder

Murder, on a domestic level, is almost always relational. A person kills their spouse because of infidelity, jealousy, fear, insecurity, hate or a myriad of other issues that foster dysfunctional relationships. So often it is about the lack of intimacy, the desire for it, the disconnection from it or failed attempts at finding it. Yes, of course, there are those few who kill out of love; the man watching his beloved wife slowly and painfully die from cancer, finally cannot bear her suffering another moment and kills her and then himself. Altruistic and selfless devotion to others can supersede general prescriptions for killing. Indeed, to the devotee it is never murder, just killing.

For others, failed attempts at establishing normalcy in relationships finds murder the best prescription for reestablishing power differentials. Mr. Cho, in the Virginia Tech Massacre of 2007 was incapable of establishing healthy relationships. Much akin to Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber who, after realizing that he would never have the intimacy afforded others, sent bombs to dozens of strangers. If he could not have love, praise, success and recognition then he did not want others to have it either. Yes, Cho did appear to have emotional disturbances, but he was not clinically psychotic. His penchant for detail in his method of murder, his mimicking of Columbine by producing a video tape, using chains on the doors, the methodical executions of his peers, notes left behind filled with rage at the world; none of this points to madness, but anger.

Mr. Cho was a classic profile in those who commit mass murder. He was a man with low self-esteem, poor self image and frustrated at not being able to fit in. Estranged from his peers and society at large he felt distinctively marginalized, rejected and outcast. His pathetic attempts to establish relationships only enhanced his sense of aloneness. Where do such persons go when they feel they have no voice, when they are invisible? For some, their solace is found in fantasy. Cho found his control in violent fantasies and when he acted them out he achieved the power he so desperately wanted to feel. No, none of this is purely rational thinking because most of it is delusional. That does not make him insane, just dangerous. Other people feel as he did and yet they do not act out violent fantasies that result in the killing of others. Nor can we expect our schools and police to screen out such individuals any more than we can effectively ban weapons as common as 9mm or .22 caliber handguns.

Our greatest error when such tragedies occur is the fact that we cannot resist giving the killer exactly what he so desperately wanted in the first place: recognition and fame. We all know that 32 innocent persons died horrible deaths at Virginia Tech University and this massacre is believed to be the largest in the history of the United States. Without a doubt Cho wanted that dubious distinction. To place his image on media outlets, brandishing his weapons of mass destruction not only gave Cho what he wanted but was and always will be an incredible insult to those victimized. Even worse is the fact that after every large scale mass murder there are dozens upon dozens of death threats, attempted murders and murders directly related to the media exposure of the killer(s). After Columbine there were approximately 325 incidents (school shootings, bomb threats, etc.) worldwide directly related to school mass murder. Already we have seen many such incidents in the United States. Giving so much public attention to the killer has the latent effect of feeding the fantasies of some persons already on the edge of acting out. Violence begets violence.

What is the best way to respond to such horrible violence? Seeking the resignation of the president of Virginia Tech University or the firing of its' Chief of Police is not the answer. What Cho did is far outside the realm of preventable criminal behavior. We cannot lock down our schools, universities, parks, shopping malls, theaters and public buildings unless we want to have armed guards in all of our public venues, much as Israel does. But we are a country of 300 million not 6 million. If someone is determined to attack a public place in America he will always be able to find an unguarded location. What we can do is be willing to report persons who are demonstrating stalking behaviors such as those exhibited by Cho and report persons making physical threats. I think it is fair to say that our mental health professionals, law enforcement, school officials and many others actually do provide intervention for persons with dangerous traits. Were it not for them I have no doubts we would have many more such attacks.

You may argue that pointing out potentially dangerous persons is a slippery slope in a democratic society that prides itself on liberties. Our plethora of mass and serial killings in the United States suggests to me that we have forgotten that it is not only the pursuit of liberties but also the pursuit of life that we so cherish. The lessons of 9/11, Columbine and Virginia Tech have left an indelible impression upon the American social landscape that we must find ways to keep our lives as well as our liberties. May God bless each and every victim, family, relatives and friends of those murdered or wounded in Virginia. We cry for you and we cry with you.

Eric Hickey, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for Forensic Studies - Alliant International University
Criminal Psychologist & Crime Consultant
Biography

Be sure to follow Dr. Hickey's online blog.

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