Why kids kill : inside the minds of school shooters

Summary: "Why Kids Kill is an analysis of the psychological causes of school shootings. Going beyond surface explanations, Langman shows how three distinct types of youths become school shooters: kids who are narcissistic and sadistic, kids who have hallucinations and delusions, and kids who have been abused and traumatized. He reveals why certain teens think of violence as a stepping-stone to status and power and carry out their murder sprees in schools. Eschewing simplistic labels, Langman builds complex psychological profiles of the perpetrators of major shootings - from the Arkansas shooting that inspired subsequent rampage attacks, to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold at Columbine, to Seung Hui Cho and the massacre at Virginia Tech." "Langman bases his analysis on nearly 20 years of therapeutic practice with troubled youth and offers unprecedented insight into why certain teens exhibit the potential to kill. He identifies early signs of possible violence and suggests preventive measures that educators and parents can take to protect their communities."--BOOK JACKET.