A cross-cultural review of sudden mass assault by a single individual in the oriental and occidental cultures
Hempel, AG
Chief Forensic Psychiatrist, Extended Treatment Program, North Texas State Hospital, Vernon Campus, Vernon, TX 76384.

Levine, RE
Associate Professor, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101.

Meloy, JR
Associate Clinical Professor, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101.

Westermeyer, J
Professor of Psychiatry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55105.


Abstract
A nonrandom sample of North American cases of sudden mass assault by a single individual (SMASI, n = 30) is compared with a nonrandom sample of Laotian amok cases (n = 18) and other amok studies. Perpetrators in
both studies show evidence of social isolation, loss, depression, anger, pathological narcissism, and paranoia, often to a psychotic degree. The term “innovative perpetrator” is reintroduced and expanded upon. Similarities among samples far outweigh differences, leading the authors to conclude that SMASI and its appearance in different cultures is not a culture-bound syndrome.

Keywords:
amok, forensic psychiatry, forensic science, homicide, mass murder, predatory violence

Paper ID: JFS45313

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Author Hempel AG, Levine RE, Meloy JR, Westermeyer J Title A cross-cultural review of sudden mass assault by a single individual in the oriental and occidental cultures Symposium , Committee on