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Characteristics of Fame-Seeking Individuals Who Completed Or Attempted Mass Murder in the United States Angelica Wills Walden University

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Characteristics of Fame-Seeking Individuals Who Completed Or Attempted Mass Murder in the United States Angelica Wills Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Characteristics of Fame-Seeking Individuals Who Completed or Attempted Mass Murder in the United States Angelica Wills Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Personality and Social Contexts Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Angelica Wills has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Eric Hickey, Committee Chairperson, Psychology Faculty Dr. Christopher Bass, Committee Member, Psychology Faculty Dr. John Schmidt, University Reviewer, Psychology Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2019 Abstract Characteristics of Fame-Seeking Individuals Who Completed or Attempted Mass Murder in the United States by Angelica Wills MS, Walden University, 2016 BA, Stockton University, 2008 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University June 2019 Abstract Previous researchers have found mass murderers characterized as loners, victims of bullying, goths, and individuals who had a psychotic break. A gap in the literature that remained concerned the motive and mindset of mass murderers before their attack, particularly those who seek fame, and why they are motivated by such violent intentions. The purpose of this study was to provide a deeper analysis of the characteristics of fame- seeking individuals who have completed or attempted mass murder, as well as insight into their behavior on social media. The conceptual framework consisted of a constructivist model, which guided the exploration the purposeful sample of 12 Americans who completed or attempted mass murder. The research questions aligned with themes provided by Bandura’s social learning theory, Sulloway’s theory of birth order and family dynamics, Millon and Davis’s theories of psychopathy, O’Toole’s findings on the copycat effect, and Lankford’s criteria for fame-seeking mass murderers, and guided an analysis of open-source data. Six main themes among fame-seeking individuals in the United States who had completed or attempted mass murder emerged: (a) fame as primary motivation, (b) preoccupation with violence, (c) presence of specific role models/copycat behavior, (d) strong opinions about society/racial groups, (e) symptoms of narcissism/mood disorder/personality disorder, and (f) failed relationships. These findings add to the knowledge about mass murder and fame seeking. Social change may occur through recommended evaluation of and improvements in current mental health approaches, improved threat assessment, expanded education on characteristics of mass murderers, and dissemination of information related to mass murder. Characteristics of Fame-Seeking Individuals Who Completed or Attempted Mass Murder in the United States by Angelica Wills MS, Walden University, 2016 BA, Stockton University, 2008 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Clinical Psychology Walden University June 2019 Dedication For my husband, Jon, who supported me through this process, from our first discussion over pizza, to staying up late listening to me ramble, and now at the end. Thank you for all your support and love through this journey and every aspect of my life. There are not enough words to express my gratitude and love for you. For my daughter, who constantly provides me with much-needed love and smiles, as well as understanding and kindness beyond her years. For the rest of my family and friends whom I have neglected over this process, I thank you for your love and support, as well. Acknowledgements To my committee members for always being there when I needed them: Dr. Eric Hickey, for providing much-needed humor and levity during some difficult times, always encouraging me to move onward; and Dr. Christopher Bass, for remaining a reliable and supportive member of this team. Dr. Peter Langman, whose expertise on school shootings, wealth of knowledge, and website has provided me with more information that I could ever ask for. Dr. Adam Lankford, for helping me grow this idea from a tiny seed, and for offering me guidance without ever meeting me in person. James Fitzgerald, for being my professional mentor and offering his vast knowledge on forensic linguistics, all while being one of the humblest people I know. Dr. Laura Hamlett Schlater, for providing me with moral support and by being a never-ending source of knowledge when it comes to APA formatting. I would like to thank all those who have supported and guided me throughout this dissertation journey, as well as my academic career. Your encouragement, patience, and support are not unnoticed and will not be forgotten. This undertaking was a team effort, and I am thankful to have such compassionate people in my life who encourage my growth and learning. Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................... 4 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................ 6 Purpose of the Study...................................................................................................... 7 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 8 Conceptual Framework for the Study ........................................................................... 8 Bandura’s Social Learning Theory.......................................................................... 9 Sulloway’s Theory of Birth Order........................................................................... 9 Copycat Effect ....................................................................................................... 10 Nature of the Study...................................................................................................... 10 Definitions ................................................................................................................... 11 Assumptions ................................................................................................................ 13 Scope and Delimitations .............................................................................................. 14 Limitations................................................................................................................... 15 Significance ................................................................................................................. 17 Summary and Transition ............................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 21 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 21 Literature Search Strategy ........................................................................................... 22 i Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................... 23 Psychosocial Characteristics ....................................................................................... 23 Subtypes of Psychopathy....................................................................................... 23 Social Learning Theory ......................................................................................... 26 Family Dynamics .................................................................................................. 27 Key Terms and Concepts ............................................................................................ 29 Definition of Mass Murder .................................................................................... 29 School Shootings ................................................................................................... 30 Mass Murderers ..................................................................................................... 31 Preoffense Behavior .................................................................................................... 35 Predicting Mass Murder ........................................................................................ 35 Motives .................................................................................................................
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