"Forensic psychologist Jillian Peterson, cofounder of The Violence Project, a think tank dedicated to reducing violence, said mass shooters are typically younger men, channeling their pain and anger through acts of violence and aggression. For many mass shooters, Peterson said, their path to violence begins with early childhood trauma. They often … [Read more...]
What drives mass shooters? Grievance, despair, and anger are more likely triggers than mental illness, experts say.
How ending child abuse and improving mental health care could prevent mass shootings
The Violence Project's co-founders spoke with reporters from Global News about our research into the commonalities behind mass shooters. The most prevalent commonality after gun access was childhood abuse and neglect (92% of cases). This article examines the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in April 2020, and uses Drs. Peterson and Densley's … [Read more...]
Podcast: The Patterns Behind Mass Shootings and the Creation of The Violence Project
We all have events or situations in our childhood that shape who we are today. While many are uplifting, there are less fortunate people who encountered childhood trauma, setting them off track to commit some of the most upsetting crimes. Dr. Jillian Peterson, President and Co-Founder of The Violence Project, has dedicated her career to … [Read more...]
We can address mass shootings by reducing childhood trauma and mitigating its impact
Mass shootings have our nation once more desperately searching for answers to difficult questions. How could they have been prevented? Some question whether prevention is within our reach. This question sparks debate around issues such as the proliferation of guns in America, hateful political ideologies, violence in video games and movies, and … [Read more...]
The making of a mass shooter: What contributes to a killer opening fire on strangers?
The New Zealand Herald examined findings from The Violence Project's research into potential warning signs of mass shootings. They quote Drs. Peterson and Densley's op-ed in the Los Angeles Times discussing the four common traits between mass shooters. Read their coverage of our findings here. Source: New Zealand Herald Author: Shannon … [Read more...]