Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg What causes mass shootings? (with Ragy Girgis)
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Nov 5, 2025 In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ragy Girgis, a Psychiatry Professor at Columbia University and expert on mass violence, delves into the complex causes of mass shootings. He explores how media coverage can amplify the fame-seeking motives of perpetrators, the limited role of severe mental illness, and the societal factors driving public mass murders. Girgis emphasizes the need for targeted prevention efforts, such as specific psychiatric profiling and robust gun regulations, to effectively address the underlying issues of violence.
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Mass Murder Is Predominantly American And Firearm-Driven
- The Columbia database assembled ~2,300 mass murders from public records and media.
- About 65% of documented mass murders occurred in the U.S., with firearms dominating methods.
Public Shootings Are A Small Slice Of Mass Murder
- Familicides are the largest category, about 45% of mass murders.
- Public mass murders (school, workplace) are only ~13% of cases yet get most media attention.
Coverage And Drills Can Do Harm
- School shooting drills and sensational coverage increase fear and may cause harm.
- Media attention and drill culture can create contagion and copycat effects.
