Post-Columbine - en kvalitativ studie av sju skolskjutningar

Abstract

The study has got three aims. The first purpose is to implement the Newman et al.s rampage theory (2004) in a more dominant European context. In this way, the theory’s strengths and weaknesses can be exposed. The second objective is to look at the motive. By studying the offender’s life experience and their justification of the action, a deeper understanding can be developed. The third is to relate the phenomena to a broader theoretical perspective in form of conflict and conflict management. In this study a single case study is used in two steps. The first analysis is a holistic case study; where the process in each case is analyzed. The second step is based on a pattern matching between the seven cases, to test the theory and add the conflict perspective into the analysis. The primary data is produced by the offender, in the form of documents, pictures and movies. The secondary data is official documents considering the cases. The main results shows that Newman et al.s theory is relevant, even when it is applied in a broader geographic context. The strength of the theory is the focus on the phenomena as a multicasual process. The weaknesses with the theory, is the factors concerning “under the radar” and “access to gun”. The individual justified there action emotionally, where the humiliation experienced in school transform into righteous rage. By relating the phenomena to a broader theoretical perspective and looking at the conflicts part in the process, a deeper understanding is developed for the emotional and situational factors, which both justifies the action and make the situation escalate for the individual.