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[Note: This is an excerpt from "The Classroom Avenger," James P. McGee and Caren R. DeBernardo, Forensic Examiner (May-June, 1999). The study includes this important set of qualifications: "As a descriptive composite,[the "Classroom Avenger"] is not based on any type of statistical or actuarial model of prediction. Instead, it is both subjective and impressionistic and it is partially informed by a limited number of cases and an equally limited amount of fragmentary data and unconfirmed anecdotal accounts derived from official police reports and the popular media."]
- Female
- Resides in large city
- Minority status
- Openly homosexual or bisexual
- Membership and active participation in the following activities:
- mainstream religious groups/churches
- student government
- drama, chorus, dance and other performing arts
- boy scouts/eagle scouts
- ROTC
- Individual and team sports
- Prosocial hobbies and interests
- Attends private school
- Humorous-"class clown"
- Outgoing, friendly
- Well liked by teachers, "teacher's pet"
- Close relationships with teachers or other adults in authority
- Has steady girlfriend
- Popular among peers
- Prosocial leader
- Recipient of academic or public service awards
- Acceptance to military academy
- Recipient of scholarships
- Positive and close relationships with siblings
- Positive and close relationships with parents
- Volunteerism
- School spirit
- Pacifist
- Support for gun control
- Specific career aspirations
- Enthusiasm about present and future
- No guns in home
- No interest in violence
- Drug/alcohol abuse
- Body piercing/tattoos
- Physical handicap
- Mental retardation
- Severe learning disability
- Severe mental illness such as Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder
- Consistently poor academic performance
- Severe and evident conduct disorder
- Well documented history of extensive criminal/delinquent behavior
- Chronic truancy
- Recurrent extreme belligerence towards teachers and school authorities
- Frequent physical fights
- Male
- Caucasian
- Middle Class
- Average age 16
- Rural or small community residence in south or northwest
- Physically healthy
- Dysfunctional family (superficially normal)
- Family anger and power struggles
- Poor parent and sibling relationships
- Loner/social outcast
- Member of alienated group
- Attends public school
- Family history of mental illness, personality disorders or substance abuse
- Guns in the home, proficiency with firearms
- Appearance of normality to adults
- Negative self-image and unstable self-esteem
- "Geeks or nerds" who are rejected by mainstream students
- No physical handicaps, disabilities, mental retardation or severe mental illness
- As infants-colicky, temperamental, delayed milestones
- Problems with attachment and bonding
- Average to above average IQ
- No history of serious school/conduct problems
- Covert vandalism and dishonesty
- Distrustful and secretive with adults in authority
- Immature
- No participation in prosocial groups or "normal" pastimes
- Interest in real and fictional violence in the media
- Atypical depression with action equivalents
- Mixed personality disorder with paranoid, antisocial, and narcissistic features
- Motive vengeance and achievement of power/status
- Violent fantasies
- Premeditation/planning/surveillance of targets
- Target female and high functioning students
- Stalking of females
- Menninger Triad (suicidal, homicidal, suicide by cop)
- Recent multiple psychological stresssors including rejection, discipline, humiliation
- Copycat influence
- Inappropriate communications of intent
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