Understanding mass murder

Emma E. Fridel and Kyle G. Knapp

Chapter 16 in Research Handbook on Violent Crime and Society, 2025, pp 257-272 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Traditionally regarded as a niche topic within criminology, mass murder has garnered more scholarly attention over the last few decades. This is due, in part, to increased public awareness following several high-profile incidents that occurred in public places and schools. Although still quite rare, mass murder has been framed as an epidemic that plagues the United States, igniting calls for research into the etiology and prevention of the phenomenon. While historically studied using in-depth case analyses, the revent development of crowd-sourced databases and utilization of quantitative methods has led to advancements in this area. This chapter seeks to integrate the extant literature on mass murder by exploring what is empirically known about its correlates, theoretical explanations, and consequences. We conclude by discussing pathways forward with regard to scholarly research and public policy.

Keywords: Mass murder; School shootings; Homicide; Gun violence; Domestic violence; Suicide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035317851
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