For friends and families of victims of the Colorado theatre shooting, it is still very unclear as to why their innocent loved ones are gone. Most of us can agree that the killers have some degree of psychological problems. However, most of us think that its some high level of schizophrenia or psychosis. This is because most of us think that schizophrenics mumble nonsense and are driven to kill people for no apparent reason...this is not exactly true. Various types of schizophrenia are characterized by hallucinations, delusions of grandeur, and lack of emotion. Although killers may have some of these characteristics, they are not really diagnosed with schizophrenia...more like depression. According to Sigmund Freud, our adult lives and emotions are affected by early childhood experiences. Perhaps these killers had some emotional trauma in their youth, while their mind was still developing? THis would've driven them slightly insane from the beginning, although it may not have been visible until their early adulthood. Studies show that those responsible for mass murders feel "frustrated with life's disappointments." Most of them also isolate themselves from friends and family, showing that they might also have some social disorder. Because they isolate themselves from people, the comfort that they would've otherwise received from friends and family that would've helped deal with the frustrations is basically nonexistent.
"They see themselves as the victim of undeserved mistreatment and unfairness" says James Alan Fox from USA Today. To them, mass killings are just a way of letting out their anger and frustration on the "corrupt society" that is supposedly responsible for their misfortune. Most are prepared to die, thinking that their lives are meaningless, so long as they receive payback for their horrible life.
Fortunately, further research is being done to help treat or prevent the onset of mental disorders that are characteristic of killers. For now, we can only mourn for the dead and hope for the living, especially those living in deep depression, such as the one responsible for the 12 dead and 58 injured at a shooting at the midnight premiere of the Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado.
By Ted S. Warren, AP
Esmeralda Carbajal lights candles at a growing memorial across the street from the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo.
