Mass Shooters, Firearms, and Social Strains: A Global Analysis of an Exceptionally American Problem

• In Event: 295 - Regular Session. Violence

Abstract

For decades, people have wondered if the dark side of American exceptionalism is a cultural propensity for violence, and in recent years, perhaps no form of violence is seen as more uniquely American than public mass shootings. The present study offers the first quantitative analysis of all known offenders who attacked anywhere on the globe and killed a minimum of four victims. The results suggest that from 1966-2012, mass shooters were actually a global problem; they were significantly more likely to attack beyond U.S. borders than within them, and the distribution of their crimes can be partially explained by cross-national differences in firearms availability. However, the United States did have a disproportionate number of offenders, especially at school and workplace settings. Behavioral differences between offenders who attacked in the United States and elsewhere suggest that the exceptional nature of America’s mass shooter problem may be attributable to its national gun culture, social strains, and social premium on fame.

Author

• Adam Lankford, University of Alabama