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Suicide and Self-Injury

An examination of mass shooters in the 21st century in relation to the interpersonal theory of suicide

(PS11-4) An Examination of Mass Shooters in the 21st Century in Relation to the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

Saturday, November 16, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown
Abstract Text: The interpersonal theory of suicide posits a framework for understanding suicide-related thoughts and behaviors that may be applicable to perpetrators of mass shootings. The theory, as originally conceptualized, suggests that the interaction of the interpersonal constructs of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness may lead to suicidal ideation. When these constructs are met with an acquired capability to enact lethal self-harm, one then may experience a transition from suicidal ideation to suicidal behavior. As many mass shooters die by suicide or suicide-by-cop on the scene of their crime, suicide research scholars have called for an examination of these perpetrators to better understand preceding events and behaviors that may have led to the act of mass violence. This study aims to identify antecedent interpersonal processes, as used in the interpersonal theory of suicide, that are observed in mass shooters prior to their mass shooting. Through a multiple coder process, a database of mass shooters in the 21st century (N = 112) will be developed that codes for variables that we believe fall within the perceived burdensomeness (e.g., feeling like a burden to society, feeling like a burden to friends), thwarted belongingness (e.g., short-term rejection experiences, long-term rejection experiences, bullied), and acquired capability (e.g., past suicide attempts, body enhancements, fascination with firearms, fascination with death) constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Sources for coding will include bipartisan local and national news sources, police reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports, manifestos written by the shooter, and suicide notes. To ensure inter rater reliability, each shooting will be coded by two raters and checked for agreeableness. Any discrepancies amongst raters will be discussed and resolved before data analysis. Descriptive analyses of antecedent interpersonal constructs, and analyses of variance by status of shooter (died on the scene of the crime (e.g., suicide, suicide-by-cop) / did not die on the scene) will be conducted. These analyses will provide novel insight into possible mechanistic factors affecting the risk of mass shootings, as well as behavioral and interpersonal differences in mass shooters who die by suicide, or suicide-by-cop, and those who survive the shooting. Results will provide possible upstream targets (i.e., interpersonal processes and behaviors that occur before the act of violence) for the prevention of mass shootings, as well as the ability to develop new hypotheses regarding factors affecting the risk of mass shootings.
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