Social-emotional Origins of Violence: a Theory of Multiple Killing

This essay outlines a cybernetic theory of violence, supporting and extending earlier studies, particularly Gilligan and Websdale. It spells out recursive, interactive processes of alienation and emotion. The theory proposes that the cause of most violence is the interaction between social alienation and what Gilligan called secret shame. Two emotion spirals are described: shame/rage and shame/shame. Studies and accounts of multiple killings offer preliminary support. The idea may be applicable to collective behavior also, such as gratuitous wars. Websdale’s cases of calmly planned familicide seems particularly relevant. The origins of WWI provide an example. The last section offers some tentative first steps toward decreasing violence. (7358 words) This article describes social-emotional processes leading to killings, and preliminary steps that might help avoid future ones. Because there is a large amount of background information about multiple killers, and one large-scale, detailed study, their cases are used to illustrate the theory. To suggest the possibility that the theory may also apply on a larger scale, some historical materials related to the origins of World War I are also included. The most useful steps toward a general theory of the emotional causes of violence were suggested by Gilligan (1997), based on his experiences with violent men as a prison psychiatrist. The emotion of shame is the primary or ultimate cause of all violence... Shame is a necessary but not a sufficient cause of violence, just as the tubercle bacillus is necessary but not sufficient for the development of tuberculosis. The different forms of violence, whether toward individuals or entire populations, are motivated (caused) by shame. (pp. 110-111) [There are three preconditions under which shame leads to violence.] The first precondition is that the shame is a secret] probably the most carefully guarded secret held by violent men...The degree of shame that a man needs to be experiencing in order to become homicidal is so intense and so painful that it threatens to overwhelm him and bring about the death of the self, cause him to lose his mind, his soul, or his sacred honor. The idea that secret shame is the prime cause of violence is very important, but needs to be elaborated. Normal emotions are hardly overwhelming because they are brief and instructive. Fear is a signal of imminent danger, but usually comes and goes in a few seconds, like other normal emotions. Similarly, normal shame and embarrassment are brief signals of actual or potential rejection by other(s). What kind of dynamic can result 1 This article uses the term multiple killing, rather than spree, rampage, mass, or serial killing. I am indebted to Robert Fuller for his comments on an earlier draft, to Chris Poulsen for his help with the large literature on multiple killings, and to Suzanne Retzinger for her support and encouragement.