What causes these extreme cases of school violence? What could cause such an extreme act of violence like the recent mass shooting Germany?It seems like each time we are faced with that question, most people end up agreeing that it starts with some type of mental health issues like depression, anger problems, self-esteem, difficulty coping with stress, or social incompetence. Yet, what things are put into place to prevent it from happening again?
If operating from a Cognitive Psychology Perspective, one understands that feelings and actions are precipitated by thoughts. Think for a moment about what must be going on in the thoughts of someone who commits such horrific actions. One thing is for sure. The thoughts must have been EXTREME. So extreme that the individual sees no other option. This is when violence toward self or others occurs.
This is a scary subject. After these events take place, it's difficult to think about your children sitting next to someone in class that has never been taught how to moderate their thinking.
This is more evidence to support the notion that we should be spending time teaching every child how to problem-solve and challenge their own extreme and unhealthy thoughts. The Challenge Software Program was designed to teach children how to moderate their thinking processes.
