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The Psychology of Mass Violence | Interview: Adam Lankford

Kevin Williamson sits down with Adam Lankford, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Alabama, to delve into the complex factors behind mass violence and ideological killings—from video games and social media to sexual frustrations and extremist ideologies.

The Agenda:
Trends in mass shootings
—Performative nature of violence
—The role of ideology in mass violence
—The impact of video games
Incels and femcels
—Policy suggestions

The Dispatch Podcast is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here.

Kevin D. Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch and is based in Virginia. Prior to joining the company in 2022, he spent 15 years as a writer and editor at National Review, worked as the theater critic at the New Criterion, and had a long career in local newspapers. He is also a writer in residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. When Kevin is not reporting on the world outside Washington for his Wanderland newsletter, you can find him at the rifle range or reading a book about literally almost anything other than politics.

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