In the fall of 2020, a prominent technology company in California contacted forensic psychologist J. Reid Meloy, PhD, a threat assessment researcher, because one of their software engineers had posted worrisome messages on a social media platform. The messages alluded to plans of a violent attack. The platform flagged the posts and alerted the FBI.
The team discovered that 42% of the shooters had experienced early childhood trauma and exposure to violence at a young age, such as physical or sexual abuse, having a parent commit suicide, bullying, or witnessing domestic violence. More than 80% had reached a crisis point in the hours, weeks, or months leading up to the incident.
“People on the pathway to violence usually give more extensive information about their plans to family members and close friends than to supervisors, teachers, or coworkers, but family and friends are less willing to report this information, said Meloy.” Robin G. Willis
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If psychologists identify warning behaviors, they can share the safety concerns with the patient and explore the possibility of voluntary hospitalization. If a patient is a danger to themselves or others but does not agree to this, then psychologists are usually required to break patient confidentiality and pursue involuntary hospitalization, said Gibson.
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We have a network of highly skilled and experienced independent Clinical Psychologists and Cognitive Behavioural Therapists who have been carefully selected for their expertise in psychological trauma.
One of the most common mistakes organizations make is hastily firing someone for threatening behavior. This may be viewed as yet another insult or intolerable loss by the employee. Instead, termination can be postponed while the threat assessment team gathers information about the situation.