Island Voices
Stemming violence at school, workplace

By Gary Farkas
A Honolulu-based licensed psychologist and human resources consultant

Horrified students, faculty, managers and fellow employees all seek to better understand the dynamics of violence in school and on the job.

Hawai'i workplaces first expressed interest in this phenomenon after John Miranda held a shotgun to the neck of a former co-worker. Since Xerox became known for more than document processing, Hawai'i's organizations have shown sustained interest in violence prevention and threat mitigation.

The National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime published a recent report on the traits of school shooters. Among the characteristics noted were low tolerance for frustration, poor coping skills, resentment over perceived injustices, a lack of empathy for others, access to weapons and turbulent family relationships.

Bullying is found to be part of the school culture, as is a code of silence in which there is a failure to report concerns about the violence potential of the perpetrator. The U.S. Secret Service also published a recent report on school shooters, finding that the shooting is rarely impulsive, typically has a revenge motive and the intent is usually communicated beforehand.

The circumstances surrounding those who shoot in schools are similar to the characteristics of workplace violence. Much violence in the employee-to-employee category is perpetrated by those who have impaired conflict management skills, people with highly paranoid belief systems or delusions, individuals who tend to blame others for their own failings in life or people with an extreme sense of being owed something.

What can be done to meet the challenges of a violent world? Safe organizations have policies against harassment, bullying or mistreatment of others. They train their administrators, staff and teachers and students.

Safe organizations of all types have policies in place that clearly prohibit threatening conduct and behavior. These safe organizations establish a culture of trust, where employees, students or parents feel secure in reporting concerns about potentially violent people.

Safe organizations have violence intervention teams that investigate reports of potential violence and use creative methods to mitigate threats.

Safe organizations are safe not by accident but by design.