12 October 2013

News Stories

There have been many news stories over the past year that lead me to consider human behaviour and to ask Psychological questions.

Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting 
This event is absolutely chilling and terrifying. What led Adam Lanza to commit this horrific mass murder of innocent children and teachers? What conditions are needed in order for the human mind to become disturbed enough and void of so much emotion to allow such cold-hearted shootings? Were Lanza's actions connected to his autism? Was he seeking revenge? What for? Were his actions a result of his genetics or environment? (Most likely a complex interaction of both) Why did he, a shy and withdrawn 'loner', commit this monstrosity, but others with similar personality traits never commit even a minor crime? How is there this much variation in humans? How is it possible that humans range from the extreme of of brutally shooting children to the selflessness and bravery of the teachers that sacrificed themselves to save the children's lives? How will this traumatic event influence the survivors? Will the surviving children ever psychologically recover or will this experience influence their own behaviours and mental processes for the rest of their lives?

Boston Marathon Bombings
There are many questions concerning the survivors of this horrible event. What are the effects on the human mind from being put through this amount of stress and trauma? How many people will suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Will they ever be able to live normal lives or will they forever be haunted by the event?

Jimmy Savile Sex Scandal 
What effect did Savile's sexual abuse have on the children involved? Have these horrible childhood experiences influenced their development and adult lives? Can a child recover from trauma like this or will it forever influence their future behaviours and responses? What motivated Savile to commit these sexual offences? What is going on in the mind of a paedophile?

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