This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Geller, E. S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Tragic Shootings at Virginia Tech: Personal Perspectives, Prospects, and Preventive Potentials

Center for Applied Behavior Systems, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, esgeller{at}vt.edu

This discussion article reviews events and personal reactions following the mass killing at Virginia Tech that took the lives of 27 students and 5 professors, while injuring 29 more, on April 16, 2007. A positive view is attempted by exemplifying incredible campus leadership and resolve throughout the painful aftermath, as well as "reaching-out" communication revealing worldwide concern and compassion. The implementation of certain intervention strategies to increase proactive interpersonal communication for safety, security, and human welfare is advocated to prevent similar catastrophes. The author calls this intervention focus "actively caring," and discusses ways to increase the quantity and quality of this behavior, as gleaned from empirical research and industry-based applications. It is hoped that this presentation will activate relevant conversations, action plans, and research proposals.

Key Words: Virginia Tech • trauma • outreach • news media • leadership • behavior-based coaching • empowerment

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?