R E V I S I T I N G T H E
V I R G I N I A T E C H
S H O O T I N G S :
A N E C O L O G I C A L
S Y S T E M S A N A LY S I S
H O N G , J . S . , C H O , H . , L E E , A . S . ( 2 0 1 0 )
S U M M A R I Z E D B Y Z I L I H A U L U B O Y

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Virginia Tech Shootings Case
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• Urie Bronfenbrenner develop Ecological Systems Theory of human development
• Focuses on role of the environment in development
• Involves interaction of these 5 systems in over time
• Each system, influnces and is influenced by the others
• This model is ideal to understand pieces and more complete analysis of social/environmental factors that impact human behaviour – violence - in this case.

BRONFENBRENNER’S
ECOLOGICAL
SYSTEMS MODEL
* Micro
* Meso
* Exho
* Macro
* Chrono systems

• Individuals’ direct setting of activity patterns, social roles, and interpersonal relations
• Micro-system-level factors;
• Individual characteristics;
In this case two risk factors - gender and mental health relevant with racial minority youth
Males are more agrresive and prone to violent behaviour than females
– gender roles; socialized more dominant, powerful, greater social pressure,
Cho came from traditionally strong male-dominant values
Cho had lack of verbal skills and socailly immature. Diagnosed social anxiety disorder and emotional problems and IQ was above avarage

• Parent-child relationship;
Lack of relationship and communication with his family, parents worked long hours so low parent-child interaction, spending limited time together
• Peer victimization
He had poor English, mocked, bullied, racial harrashment,

• Interconnection between the two or more microsystems that directly affect individual
• Parent-child relationships – lack of relationship
• Peer relationships – developed ineffective social skills
• Interaction with teachers

• Interconnection between the two or more microsystems but the individual contained in one.
• Mass media;
– Exposed to media violence - coverage of school shootings- may be influenced to act out violently for youth perceived mistreatment and injustice in school.
– Cho expressed his admiration for Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebold.

• Cultural context, values, beliefs
• Macro system refers affect the conditions and processes in the micro system
- Cultural barriers to mental health services and access to guns relevant with this case o In South Korean and Asiam American communities perceived as shame of mental and emotional problems o Conflict between cultural values (Western-based mental health system) o Language barriers o Lack of information on mental health services o Lack of affordable o School did not send his mental health information to FBI which might have prevented purchase of firearm.

• Environmental contexts, changes and events that influence children over their life
• Immigration to USA is an chrono-system-level factor
• Cho more socially withdrawn and isolated than he had been in South
Korea

PRACTICE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
• Risk factors indicated among racial and ethnic minorities
• Major risk factors of Cho’s violent behaviour were overlooked by counselors at the Virginia Tech Counseling Center
• Drawn asssessment, prevention, and intervention for school shooting in relation to the Virginia Tech case.

• Assessment and intervention strategies should think about youth’s relationships with parents and peers
• Training programme
– to parents teachers, and school officials about early signs of distorted gender images e.g. masculinity
– Misconceptions concerning mental health needs to be a part of prevention
– Communication, problem solving, conflict resolution between youth and family
– To parents how to be more supportive
– Parents’ work related stress
– Promote healthy family relationship
– Safe school environment - promotes a sense of belonging
– Social activities – developing and maintaining friendship and soical support network would be decrease youth violent behaviour

• Negative parent-child relationship may result negative peer relationships – potentially result in violent behaviour
• School administration has important role to intervene
- consider between parents and the school and between parents and their children’s peers
- parents may encouraged to involve children’s school activities, meet with children’s teachers and other youth
- parents can be aware of their children’s academic and social life in school

• Assessment should include amount of violence viewed by youth
• Link between parent’s employment and parenting practices
• Media viewing in the school curricula should include
• Provide a informative discussion forums
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• Develop educational materials for parents to protect their child from media violence

• Evaluations of mental health treatment importance
• Assessments and interventions should be relevant with family's lifestyle and cultural beliefs
• Culturally sensitive psychoeducational techniques effective intervention – adaptation
• Implementing programs about gun violence in school and gun control programmes involve collaboration between schools and the community can be effective in reducing gun-related violence
• Schools must enforce strict rules against weapon carrying on school property

• Practitioners have little direct effect over the chrono-system-factors, historical events and life transitions e.g. immigration may create problem on violence
• Practitioners and professional organizations collaborate to advocate;
on behalf of immigrant youth and families by educating elected representatives – relations between social conditions and negative consequences for immigrants
For social services to help immigrant youth and families in coping with problems within micro systems

 Many studies focused on aftermath of shooting or on interventions rather than etiology or prevention efforts
 Racial minorities ignored by majority literature on school violence
 In this study used ecological systems theory to identify the risk factors at levels of social systems were associated with shooting case.
 Mental health problems are in micro-level risk factors and interrelated with macro-level risk factors such as cultural barriers to mental health services.
 Cho’s parents was working very long hours so they had limited interaction and peer victimization are micro-level risk factors – might not have led to the shooting had the parents established a strong relationship with their so, the would-be shooter.

 The strenghts of ecological systems theory is that it allows to start where we are ready to start.
 Ecological systems theory as appiled to this study enables practitioners in various fiels to utilize information on risk factors and interactions between multiple systems to effectively address the problem of school violence.
 This theory posits any changes in a particular system create entirely different dynamics in all other systems.
 As shown in this case, much work needs to reduce or end violence in school, can contribute not only a better understanding of this problem but also to developing better aprroaches with this theory.

H o n g , J . S . , C h o , H . , L e e , A . S . ( 2 0 1 0 ) . R e v i s i t i n g t h e v i r g i n i a t e c h s h o o t i n g s : A n e c o l o g i c a l s y s t e m s a n a l y s i s . J o u r n a l o f L o s s a n d Tr a u m a 1 5 . d o i :
1 0 . 1 0 8 0 / 1 5 3 2 5 0 2 4 . 2 0 1 0 . 5 1 9 2 8 5