Prosocial Behavior and Aggression-Shooting in Nashville
Summary of the Report
Cochrane et al. (2023), writing for the New York Times, reported a shooting in Nashville that occurred on 27th March 2023. According to the report, a 28-year-old woman identified as Audrey Hale invaded the Covenant School, a Christian elementary school, and shot three adults and three children. The assailant left behind the school’s security protocol, intricate maps, and writings. The assailant had entered the school’s building by firing at the side door and proceeded to the second floor, continuously firing gunshots before she was shot by the police. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department’s chief stated that in accordance with the assailant’s social media posts, she identified as transgender and that in the past few months towards the shooting, she identified herself as male. In spite of a few details about the shooter, little was known about her motive for attacking the school. According to the chief of the police department, the assailant had planned the attack for some time. After the shooting, school children were escorted out of the school building, and other people were taken to the nearest Woodmont Baptist Church. Hire our assignment writing services in case your assignment is devastating you. We offer assignment help with high professionalism.
Application of Theoretical Model
According to Hogg & Vaughan (2017), a state of arousal or drive refers to a precondition for aggressive behavior. Hogg & Vaughan (2017) perceive ‘drive’ from a social and biological explanation. In their drive theoretical model, Hogg & Vaughan (2017) link aggressive behavior to an antecedent state of frustration using the aggression and frustration hypothesis. This hypothesis has been utilized to explain prejudice. An anthropologist named Dollard John and his colleagues stated that aggressive behavior has always been caused by some frustrating situation or event, and consequently, this frustration ultimately results in aggression (Hogg & Vaughan, 2017). Some of the applications of this theoretical model on the drive include the effect of job loss on aggressive behavior like violence and the role of economic and social deprivation in the ethnic cleansing of the non-Serbs in Bosnia and Kurds in Iraq (Hogg & Vaughan, 2017). Some scholars tend to argue that terrorism has also been spearheaded by acute and chronic frustration over the dysfunctional mechanisms of achieving cultural and socio-economic goals. Hogg & Vaughan (2017) write that people are not likely to be suicide bombers if the goal channels are effective.
From the reports, the Covenant School is a Presbyterian Church, and according to the Presbyterian Church in America, homosexuality is seen as a sin (Graham, 2023). Therefore, the church believes Christians should never identify as transgender or gay. Since the shooter was found to identify as male when she was female, one can presume that resentment towards the church based on sexual identity was the drive for the aggressive behavior. This means that the shooter was frustrated that the school owned by the church from which she schooled many years back was against homosexuality or trans-identity. Her aggressive behavior can be argued from the frustration-aggression hypothesis, as argued by Hogg &Vaughan (2017). Since she had recently identified as male on her social media platforms, she was possibly frustrated by the challenges that LGBTQ+ communities face in the country and the opposition from religious beliefs from churches and institutions such as the Covenant School. Her frustration on these grounds could be the drive toward her shooting episode. However, this is merely a theory because the investigators never really got solid evidence of the shooter’s motive for her actions. Another drive for the aggression can be that the assailant suffered from a psychological issue. Hassan & Cochrane (2023), writing for the New York Times, reported that the assailant was undergoing treatment for an emotional disorder. Therefore, this could have been a contributing factor to the shooting. Besides, one can argue from the drive theoretical model that external frustrations like gender identity issues, LGBTQ+ issues, or other issues could have caused the emotional disorder. Since it was stated that she had planned the shooting for months, it means that her frustrations were severe.
Preventive Measures
Fiedler et al. (2019) posit that severe targeted school aggression incidences are not affect-inspired spontaneous actions that emanate from present situations. Rather, they are developed during a vast period of planning, deliberation, and distress. This is totally relatable to the Nashville shooting. Fiedler et al. (2019) add that some perpetrators plan the shooting even for years. Their research study indicates that such aggressive behavior is often preceded by a psychosocial crisis during adolescence and then facilitated by acute stressful situations and sustainable social strains like disappointment in future plans and losing attachment figures. Therefore, the earliest preventive measure is to provide a strong social support system for adolescents as they experience emotional changes, which will help build resilience in handling stressful events in the future.
Another preventive measure is watching out for warning behaviors and symptoms. Fiedler et al. (2020) argue that a psychosocial crisis is constantly linked with observable warning behaviors and symptoms such as rejection of schooling, psychosomatic pain, self-injury, social withdrawal, suicidal intentions, and aggressive behaviors. In the Nashville shooting case, it was already known that the shooter was undergoing an emotional disorder. Such signs should be taken into consideration, especially when it comes to purchasing and holding weapons such as guns. Fiedler et al. (2020) suggest that apart from identifying risk factors and addressing them at an early stage, putting in place emergency response plans is important. The Nashville Covenant School is said to lack a watch police or guard. Having a guard or police at the school is crucial to detect potential threats. Schools can also install alarm systems to enhance communication inside the schools and with law enforcement.
References
Cochrane, E., Shpigel, B., Levenson, M. & Jimenez, J. (2023). 6 Killed in Nashville School Shooting, including 3 Children. The New York Times.
Fiedler, N., Sommer, F., Leuschner, V., & Scheithauer, H. (2019). Student Crisis Prevention in Schools: The NETWorks Against School Shootings Program (NETWASS)–An Approach Suitable for the Prevention of Violent Extremism?. International Journal of Developmental Science, 13(3-4), 109-122.
Fiedler, N., Sommer, F., Leuschner, V., Ahlig, N., Göbel, K., & Scheithauer, H. (2020). Teacher and peer responses to warning behavior in 11 school shooting cases in Germany. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1592.
Graham, R. (2023). Covenant Presbyterian Church is part of a Conservative Evangelical Denomination. The New York Times.
Hassan, A. & Cochrane, E. (2023). What we know about the Nashville School Shooting. The New York Times.
Hogg, M.A. & Vaughan, G.M. (2017). Social Psychology, Eighth Edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
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Question 
This week, we focus on prosocial behavior and aggression
Assessment Description
Choose a recent national or international news report of an aggressive act performed by an individual or group. Research available background details on the individual or group and supporting details. In 750-1,000 words, do the following:
Prosocial Behavior and Aggression-Shooting in Nashville
Summarize the selected national or international news report of an aggressive act performed by an individual or group.
Analyze one of the four theoretical models (biological, drive, social learning, or general aggression model) to explain factors that could have contributed to the aggressive behavior described in the news report.
Discuss preventative measures that could have been utilized to prevent the aggressive behavior described in the news report.
Use two to three scholarly sources to support your thinking; your textbook can be used as one of the resources.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.