The human body has an amazing capacity to adapt to maximize survival. For example, over time, exposure to certain germs will result in immunity. In general, this is a very good thing and has resulted in eradication of certain illnesses that caused epidemics in not so distant history. The human mind has the same capacity to resist negative stimuli. But is that really a good evolutionary result?
When the mass school shooting occurred in Columbine in 1999, it dominated everything: the news cycle, headlines and everyone’s minds and emotions. And not just for one day, but for weeks on end. The reasons for two teens to attack their classmates were debated, as surely there must have been some rationale for this behavior. In the end, there was never a satisfactory explanation, except that the perpetrators were smart, not unlike our neighbors, and they planned the massacre for the fame they thought would certainly follow.
[Read: Talking to Your Children About Tragedy.]
Since Columbine stole the collective innocence of the nation, there have been many more school shootings executed by someone searching for notoriety and notice. Since Newtown in 2012, there have been at least 1,607 mass shootings, with at least 1,846 people killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive. And while mass shootings are defined as more than four people killed, not all of them occur in schools. However, 4 percent of all mass shootings do unfold in educational institutions. In 2018 alone, there have already been more than 18 school shootings.
It’s not terribly surprising that there’s extensive gun violence in this country. The population of the United States is about 320 million, and the number of guns is pretty similar. Three in 10 Americans say they own a gun, according to the Pew Research Center. And consider that 1 in 5 adults has some form of mental illness, which means millions of armed people likely have a form of mental illness. Although not every perpetrator of gun violence has a mental illness, it’s not a far stretch to see the set-up for violence in that math. For those aware of these statistics, the conclusion is that we are facing a public health emergency with regard to mass shootings.
Many times, on the surface, the shooters are not so different from the people we know. They are not easily spotted, identified or stopped. They invoke terror by using violence to garner mass attention. They kill indiscriminately, which increases the fear they induce exponentially. This leads to feelings of helplessness as we realize there’s no rhyme or reason to the victims chosen.
[Read: How to Help Your Teen Cope With the Death of a Friend.]
When confronted with such trauma repeatedly, in an effort to control the negative stimuli, we begin to adapt with an emotional numbness. In an effort to not be incapacitated by fear and helplessness, we begin to withdraw and cultivate the numbness. And while we still feel compassion, we get better at keeping it at a distance in an amazing feat of self-preservation. There is evidence to suggest there are actually chemical changes in the brain that are impacted by post-traumatic stress. The anterior cingulate cortex in the frontal lobe has been mapped to be the area of the brain that moderates empathy. With repeated exposure, the cortex will actually decrease the stimulus to feel empathy. Yes, the body is an amazing case study in evolution, even from a psychological standpoint.
When these events occur and the mass media covers them, we see an indirect effect after a bit. Initially, we’re engrossed — but with prolonged or repeated coverage of these events, as the violence increases, our empathy lessens. It’s very similar to violence in inner city settings. After so many shootings, people shrug and say it’s inevitable and are thankful it wasn’t them or their loved ones.
So what can we do to fight off the scourge of emotional numbness? Of course, there are the ongoing debates about gun control and lack of mental health services at the center of the legislative firestorm that must indeed be discussed and solved. But is there more?
Although no answer is perfect, we could train better for our social responses. Perhaps we should develop a workout regimen for empathy. It could include paying attention, listening actively for those suffering, emotional management, building positive relationships and better decision making in conflict. Maybe the coverage of events could focus on the response. In general, there are always stories of incredible humanitarian efforts to aid those in need. That, combined with some tips on response and training, could help to ward off the compassion fatigue the brain is desperately trying to mitigate.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Whatever the method, we must not give in as a society and allow the immunity to become pervasive. We owe it to our fellow human beings here and everywhere where there’s persecution, violence and terror. We need to fight the numbness disease actively by having a national discourse of tactics to put in place, whatever they may be. We need to unite, much like the incredibly brave teenagers from a high school in Florida who refuse to mundanely go on about their lives, all of which have been irrevocably changed. Their vulnerability is raw and honest and anything but passive. They are carrying the banner of the battle against inaction and numbness. The question is: Will we notice? Will we be supportive from afar? Will we get numb to their battle cry, or will we too become warriors for empathy?
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Immunity to Violence: A New Pandemic originally appeared on usnews.com
