ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates that the origins of domestic terrorism and mass shootings have complex roots in those who are marginalized, traumatized, lack a sense of belonging, and/or have undiagnosed mental illness. The conservative dogma of Christian fundamentalism swoops up and exploits the impotent feelings of marginalized whites who fear being replaced by minority groups. Perverting the constitutional order by using violence to impose their distorted feelings of aggrieved entitlement that they were “victims” of the great white replacement theory, the most shocking example of domestic mass terrorism was the January 6 insurrection led by right-wing extremists.
In our research study, the Mother Jones database of 115 mass shootings was used to retrospectively study 55 shooters in the United States. We found that the majority of these assailants had undiagnosed psychiatric illnesses and experienced profound estrangement from others and themselves. As mass shooters are frequently victims of unacknowledged psychological turmoil, the role of malignant shame, compulsive fantasies of retaliation, and deficiencies in the capacity to mentalize play an important role in their assaults. There remains a need to decrease the stigma of mental illness to enable those with psychiatric illness to be respected and encouraged to receive effective psychiatric treatments.
