HEDGING USING DISCUSSION
social rejection was involved in most cases of lethal school violence. and at least six of the perpetrators had experienced a recent romantic rejection. and he seemed unable to explain his actions. Even so, he did not appear remorseful

and the Columbine killers’ rage appeared to come from their rejection and mistreatment by other people. Of course, a murderer’s stated reason for his behavior may reflect nothing more

Rejection may be frustrating, angering, even maddening

but it is rarely sufficient to provoke premeditated violence even if the victim feels like killing people. Thus, rejection alone, while a possible contributor,

First, a variety of psychological problems may be associated with an increased tendency for aggressive behavior.

all of which may lower one’s threshold for violence [Millon, 1981].

explosives may be more likely to act on their aggressive impulses

Kentucky shooting had apparently not fired a gun before his rampage.
and other ‘‘dark’’ lifestyles may find the idea of carnage less revolting than activities.
which physical pain (such as slamming one’s own hand in a door) can make people angry.

Other writers have suggested that aggression may result from a desire to show that one is not a we believe that the primary motive in most of the school shootings seems to have been retribution,

suggesting that the recent rejection may have been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Furthermore, like all case studies, ours necessarily lacks an appropriate control group. Although we can document that most of the perpetrators