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Psychology and Law
2020. Vol. 10, no. 2, 97–110
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2020100208
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Psychological, Social and Informational Aspects of Attacks by Minors on Educational Institutions

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E.G. Dozortseva, D.S. Oshevsky, K.V. Syrokvashina

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Abstract

The article examines the factors influencing the attacks by minors on educational institutions. The analysis of publications offering explanations and theoretical models of such crimes is performed. The authors present the results of their own qualitative analysis of data from an empirical study of 9 teenagers who attacked schools, and materials of criminal cases. The analysis is performed as part of a comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric examination. The data indicate the specific personality structure of adolescents and their existing mental disorders, as well as their special socio-psychological status in the classroom as outcasts and isolated. A compensatory mechanism of identity development is described with a focus on the role model of teenagers who attacked the Columbine school in the United States, and who imitated their actions. The role of the Internet in this process is evaluated. It is concluded that there is a need for a multidimensional analysis of such actions and appropriate preventive work.

General Information

Keywords: attacks in schools, minors, aggressive behavior, auto-aggressive behavior, suicide, the Internet.

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology of Childhood

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2020100208

For citation: Dozortseva E.G., Oshevsky D.S., Syrokvashina K.V. Psychological, Social and Informational Aspects of Attacks by Minors on Educational Institutions [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiya i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2020. Vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 97–110. DOI: 10.17759/psylaw.2020100208. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Elena G. Dozortseva, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor, Department of Legal Psychology and Law, Faculty of Legal Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Centre for Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,Member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychology and Law” member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Psychological Science and Education”, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1309-0485, e-mail: edozortseva@mail.ru

Dmitry S. Oshevsky, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Psychology, V. P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Associate Professor of the Department of Legal Psychology and Law, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Center for Mental Health" Leading Researcher of the Department of Organization of Psychiatric Services, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3465-6302, e-mail: oshevsky@serbsky.ru

Ksenia V. Syrokvashina, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Child and Adolescent Psychology, V.P. Serbsky National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Narcology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3172-6130, e-mail: syrokvashina@mail.ru

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