The lone wolf metaphor used to describe mass shooters misinforms views of extremists – and law enforcement efforts to deter the violence.
Social psychology researchers found that people commonly exaggerate the presence of certain groups – including ethnic and sexual minorities – because they perceive them as ideologically threatening.
The Buffalo mass shooting reignited discussion of replacement theory. This conspiracy isn’t new, but understanding its roots is helpful to understand its connection to extremism.
There is a mental and psychological dimension to what leads people to commit mass killings. But it is not mental illness or pathology.