Site Navigation
Research to help curb school shootings
Zoë, 24, based at Australian Catholic University's Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s) used the social networking site Facebook to collect data internationally on “the negative effects of not belonging”.
“Individuals display certain behaviours when they are socially isolated,” Zoë explained. “They become less emotional, more impulsive, uninhibited and inconsistent in their behaviour, experience feelings of meaninglessness, and are also more vulnerable to irrational thinking.”According to Zoe, research has found evidence that these same behaviours were displayed in almost all the individuals involved in school shootings in the US in recent years.
“A high proportion of individuals have been shown to have had feelings like they do not belong, have experienced social exclusion, and display behaviours such as these before the incidents,” Zoë said.
Her research involves the development of a preventative measure that is to be used as a screening tool to help identify individuals who have been socially excluded and are at risk of such “maladaptive”, abnormal behaviour.
“Every human being needs to feel connected with others,” Zoë said. “Specific and useful interventions can help those who feel like they don’t belong. We must do everything we can to build social connectedness.
“I hypothesise that by improving socially isolated individuals’ communication skills with other people and helping them be more involved in their schools and communities, we will be able to reduce these maladaptive behaviours.”
It was also important to teach them social skills and connect them to another who could encourage them and show them unconditional positive regard, she said, as well as to have effective screening procedures in place to identify those at high risk.
