title: Micro-sociology of mass rampage killings.
abstract: Spectacular but very rare violent events such as mass killings by habitual non-criminals cannot be explained by factors which are very widespread, such as possession of firearms, being a victim of bullying, an introvert, or a career failure. A stronger clue is clandestine preparation of attack by one or two individuals, against randomly chosen representatives of a hated collective identity. Mass killers develop a deep back-stage, obsessed with planning their attack, overcoming social inferiority and isolation by an emotion of clandestine excitement.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6299, USA, collinsr@sas.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D066252:Sociological Factors