You’ve likely heard, “So-and-so was just a normal guy, until he just snapped.” There are physiological reasons why someone can snap, but it’s rare. It is likely that someone showed signs of increasing aggression, and/or experienced a significant lifestyle event that caused them to finally commit violence or exhibit unacceptable behavior.
The United States Secret Service (USSS) National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) conducts extensive research and publishes multiple public domain reports about motives, behavioral indicators, and situational factors that lead to workplace violence. Many of the NTAC findings were incorporated into the framework of the Active Shooter 360 3D Workplace Prevention Workshop and Toolkit.
Key findings in the Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2018 report were as follows:
1. Most were motivated by workplace grievances or domestic issues.
2. Over 75% of the attackers made threatening or concerning communications.
3. Most had a history of criminal charges, mental health issues, or substance abuse.
4. Nearly all had a significant stressor within the last five years; over half had financial instability issues.
5. “Targeted violence may be preventable if appropriate systems are in place to identify concerning behaviors, gather information to assess the risk of violence, and utilize community resources to mitigate the risk.”
Key Takeaway:
There are usually early warning signs of impending aggression or attacks. It is imperative that your organization has a workplace violence prevention plan that is structured to assess and investigate concerning behavior, and take early corrective ACTION before a tragedy unfolds. Take advantage of the wealth of information available at the USSS National Threat Assessment Center.
What are your thoughts?