Columbine High School Shooting Case Study

This was the worst school shooting in the history of the United States. We will go over the facts, theories, and solutions that were directly linked with the Columbine High School Massacre. The theories that I will be using in this paper are the Social Control and Labeling. These theories go over self-identity and behavior of individuals which will be used to identity or to classify what categories these individuals belongs in. As well as the process of socialization and social learning skills that builds self-control. I will be using these theories to go over the tragedy of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. It was April 20, 199 when tragedy struck, there were two senior students that were involved in the shooting which was Eric …show more content…
With the Labeling Theory Eric and Dylan does not believe in the established cultural goals of our society and does not attain any goals set forth. They also do not follow the rules of society believing that they were above such things and better than society itself. As well as believing the way that they were thinking that they were delivering a self-prophecy by killing the human race. Both teens can also both be classified as being aggressive in nature as well as in mind. Eric and Dylan were friends before but they were brought together from feeling like the black sheep of their society. With the Social Control Theory both Eric and Dylan did not have any self-control over their actions. They did not care to have self-control they wanted to enact in this crime as well as other crimes. From their journals they fantasized about murdering people and enacting their vengeance on society. Also, I learned they both felt alone in this world not really connecting to anyone and in that it seems like they turned to the next best thing to be recognized for who they were. Eric and Dylan put together a plan to cause as much damage as possible together to get rid of students at school. After reading Eric’s journal I read Dylan’s journal and it is shocking on how these two young teens think alike. This mass shooting was not the first time that these …show more content…
Many thought that Eric and Dylan may have been bullied at school but when looked into it shows that they was not bullied at all (PH.D.). Both were perpetrators that were bullying others to the point some were scared to come to school (PH.D.). Based on research it showed that Eric had a disturbed personality, was antisocial, narcissistic, and he also had sadistic traits (PH.D.). Dylan was a shy depressed boy he wanted to emulate Eric for his manipulating ways and how confidant he was (Cullen). When it came to Dylan he was constantly looking at Eric for his approval (Cullen). He was good guy in person but on video or with Eric he let his anger out