Penn School Shooting ``Columbine-Psychology'' Copycat Phenomena.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 7, 2001

Another shooting at a Pennsylvania High School today injuring one student, coming two days after a shooting in San Diego that killed two and injured 13, indicates that there is a copycat phenomenon in effect -- young

people get in a rage and think of a past shooting as a model to impart their murderous rage, according to child psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., who has been following past school shootings and appeared on CNBC Geraldo last evening talking about the psychology of violence.

"According to my review of psychological and criminal research, children with early delinquent and aggressive delayed emotional and intellectual functioning, a history of being continually disruptive, substance use, difficulty in getting along with other children, and those who come from homes with disruptive and anti-social parents are most prone to act out their rage through murder," said Butterworth.

According to Butterworth, most children who commit violent crime show an early combination of personality and family factors that include having trouble getting along with playmates, doing poorly in school and having few friends.

By the age of 12, they have weak social ties, spend time with delinquent peers picking fights and are labeled by their peers as social outcasts. These children typically come from families where parents are poor at disciplining because either they are indifferent, neglectful or too coercive or they use harsh physical punishment.

"All the experts who want to blame child shootings on the media, video games or guns have failed to understand the research on violence and children, and the role of personality and parents in creating these youngsters," said Butterworth.

"We now know, from numerous examples of child murder in small communities and middle-class homes, that instances of children killing have invaded the heartland of America and that all children are at risk. Research also indicates that children who kill feel that they have no purpose in society, do not believe that they are emotionally important to their parents, and exhibit chronic low self-esteem. They are also predominantly male," said Butterworth.

Butterworth has conducted extensive surveys focused on children and youth, social and political issues, and trauma. He is a member of the media division of the American Psychological Association and is a licensed clinical psychologist.