Date of Award

Fall 2025

Language

English

Embargo Period

12-1-2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Program

Emergency Management and Homeland Security

First Advisor

Stephen Coulthart

Committee Members

Sam Jackson, David Fallon

Keywords

Mass Shooting, Extremism, Crime, Terrorism, Mass Murder, Serial Killing

Subject Categories

Criminology | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance | Terrorism Studies

Abstract

Research on the motivations behind mass shootings remains inconclusive as these events often lack a singular or explicit cause. The motivations of mass shooters are complex, shaped by the interplay of psychological, social, and ideological factors. While some attacks are clearly driven by extremist beliefs, others appear to stem from less defined forces such as depravity or sadistic intent. Existing typologies, such as Langman’s (2009) analysis of school shooters, offer valuable insight but are limited in scope. This study expands upon previous research by examining U.S. mass shootings from 2006 to 2024 to determine whether such events are more frequently motivated by explicit ideological influences or by non-ideological factors. By distinguishing between these categories, the research seeks to identify alternative motivational patterns and provide a deeper understanding of perpetrator psychology. The findings aim to advance typological models and provide a holistic understanding of what drives mass shooting violence in the United States.

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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