``Columbine-Style'' Attack: Copycat Psychology.

Entertainment & Lifestyle Editors

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2001

A "Columbine- style" attack by a college student was barely averted on Tuesday at De Anza College in San Jose, Calif.

Police said they had found 30 pipe bombs, 20 Molotov cocktails, ammunition and several weapons stashed in the bedroom of Al DeGuzman, 19, at the San Jose home where he lived with his parents.

"There is a good possibility that there is a copycat phenomenon in effect -- young people get in a rage and think of a past shooting as a model to impart their murderous rage," according to child psychologist Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., who has been following past school shootings.

"According to my review of psychological and criminal research, children with early delinquent and aggressive delayed emotional and intellectual functioning, a history of being continually disruptive, difficulty in getting along with other children, and those who come from homes with disruptive parenting are most prone to act out their rage through murder," said Butterworth.

According to Butterworth, most children who commit violent crime show an early combination of personality and family factors that include having trouble getting along with playmates, doing poorly in school and having few friends. By the age of 10, they're picking fights and labeled by their peers as social outcasts.

These children typically come from families where parents are poor at disciplining because either they are indifferent, neglectful or too coercive or they use harsh physical punishment.

"All the experts who want to blame child shootings on the media, video games or guns have failed to understand the research on violence and children, and the role of personality in creating these youngsters," said Butterworth.

"We now know, from numerous examples of child murder in small communities and middle-class homes, that instances of children killing have invaded the heartland of America and that all children are at risk. Research also indicates that children who kill feel that they have no purpose in society, do not believe that they are emotionally important to their parents, and exhibit chronic low self-esteem," said Butterworth.

Butterworth warned that until it is known for certain what makes these child killers tick, it is dangerous to release them into society, especially when there is no solid research indicating that they may be cured and prevented from killing again. "Teaching at-risk children to choose peaceful solutions to their problems sounds great, but it was never designed to curb murderous youth," said Butterworth.

Butterworth has conducted extensive surveys focused on children and youth, social and political issues, and trauma. He is a member of the media division of the American Psychological Association and is a licensed clinical psychologist.