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In the 6/5/2023 issue of PsyPOST Erich W. Dolan wrote an article titled “New study identifies sexual frustration as a significant factor in mass shootings.” I have never seen or heard of this before and although it’s off-topic for a dialysis-directed blog, it certainly is topical and very much in today’s news. The original article is linked here. I’ve included a summary below. It certainly blows holes in the theory that guns kill people.

  1. A study published in Homicide Studies found that mass shooters exhibiting signs of sexual frustration were responsible for more victims on average than other mass shooters. This study highlights sexual frustration as a significant contributing factor to gun violence and notes differences in the psychological profiles and attack types of these individuals.
  2. The researchers developed a set of criteria to identify sexually frustrated shooters, which included explicit complaints about sexual frustration, inability to find a partner, soliciting sex workers, stalking or harassing desired partners, and engaging in illegal or inappropriate sexual behaviors.
  3. Approximately one-third of mass shooters were found to have sexual frustration problems. These individuals were six times more likely to have a history of sex offending, desired more fame, and tended to carry out some of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
  4. Sexually frustrated mass shooters were more likely to be young, male, unmarried, childless, unemployed, and misogynistic. They exhibited behaviors linked to seeking relief, power, revenge, and displaced frustration. They also tended to kill more victims and a higher proportion of female victims, often choosing schools as their target locations.
  5. The researchers argue that sexual frustration is a complex issue, not limited to virgins or “incels”, but also affects sexually active people. It is influenced by expectations, entitlements, and the embrace of toxic gender norms. They suggest that societal progress in reducing toxic factors, such as men’s assumptions that women are obliged to have sex with them, could help mitigate sexual frustration and, consequently, potentially violent behaviors.