Expert Available Regarding Underlying Reasons, Warning Signs of School Violence in Adolescents

Newswise — Columbine Remembered: Recognizing the Warning Signs of Impending Student Violence -- How Far Have We Come?

Alliant International University Psychology Expert Available for Interviews Regarding the Warning Signs of School Violence in Adolescents and the Underlying Psychological Reasons

April 20th marks the ninth anniversary of the shooting rampage at Columbine High School. In 1999, two students embarked on a killing spree that claimed the lives of12 students and one teacher, wounded 23 other individuals, and finally ended in the suicides of the two shooters. This tragic incident, the United States’ fourth-deadliest mass school killing, serves as a somber reminder that violence, rage and revenge can brew undetected just under the surface of a teen’s psyche.

The Columbine massacre created much debate about possible motivations for the carnage. It brought into question issues such as peer pressure, high school cliques, violent movies, music, video games and the use of anti-depressants in minors. More importantly, the nation collectively asked, “How could the warning signs of impending violence of this magnitude have gone unnoticed?”

Despite the widespread adoption of school security technology and screening measures, school violence is still a major issue facing today's adolescents and young adults, as evidenced by the more recent shootings including: Northern Illinois University on February 14, 2008, E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, CA on February 12, 2008 and Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Statistics show that one in 12 high school students are threatened or injured with a weapon each year.

Because the issue of adolescent violence continues to be of critical interest and importance to parents with preteen and teenage children, Alliant International University is providing media interview opportunities from April 4-6, 2008 with a leading expert on this topic.

WHO: An expert on the warning signs of school violence, Dr. Russ Newman, PhD and J.D., is Alliant International University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. As the former Executive Director for Professional Practice at the American Psychological Association (APA), Dr. Newman created a public education campaign in conjunction with MTV on the Warning Signs of School Violence for which he was a spokesperson on the subject for one year after the Columbine tragedy. Dr. Newman specializes in legislative advocacy, legal initiatives, the health care market, enhancement of the value of psychological services, and the “prescriptive authority movement." Alliant International University, headquartered in San Diego and San Francisco, works with the media to provide timely and accurate information on a variety of psychological issues to increase the understanding of human behavior.

WHAT: Violence is a learned behavior. Like all learned behaviors, it can be changed. Yet, there is no single cause of violence, no single warning sign and no simple solution. Dr. Russ Newman can address what psychologists have learned since Columbine and how society should be working at multiple levels to both prevent violence and reduce its impact. He can discuss the psychological reasons behind the tendencies toward violent behavior. Most importantly, he can help to identify how to recognize the signals of impending violence and what can be done to prevent tragedies. Signs and signposts include:

• Reasons for Violence - Contributing factors include: peer pressure, need for attention or respect, feelings of low self-worth, early childhood abuse or neglect, witnessing violence at home, in the community or in the media


• Recognizing Violence - Warning signs include: loss of temper on a daily basis, frequent physical fighting, significant vandalism or property damage, increase in use of drugs or alcohol, increase in risk-taking behavior, detailed plans to commit acts of violence .announcing threats or plans for hurting others, enjoying hurting animals, carrying a weapon.


• What Parents and Peers Can Do - When warning signs of violence are exhibited: Ask an experienced professional for help, don't spend time alone with people who show warning signs, tell a trusted and respected person about concerns, and ask for help from family members, guidance counselors, teachers, school psychologists, coached, clergy, school resource officers or friends.

WHEN: Dr. Newman is available in person from Friday afternoon, April 4 to Sunday morning, April 6th during the California Psychology Association (CPA) Annual Convention “Who We Are and Why It Matters” - The Many Faces of Psychology (April 3-6, 2008). Over the phone interviews can also be arranged post the convention.

WHERE: Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, California

HOW: Live interviews with Dr. Newman at the CPA Annual Convention and interviews by phone can be arranged by contacting: Victoria S. De Alba of De Alba Communications (650) 270-7810 or Gina Snow at (415) 563-5333.
Additional information on adolescent violence, its causes and early warning signs, can be found at the American Psychological Association website at http://www.apahelpcenter.org.

About Alliant International University
Founded in 2001, Alliant International University (http://www.alliant.edu) is a non-profit university that prepares students for professional careers in psychology, education, business and forensics. Alliant offers mentored field experiences and individual coaching that allows students to develop hands-on professional skills and practical experience with clients. An exceptionally diverse faculty and student body provides graduates to learn to work productively with colleagues and clients from different cultural and international backgrounds. U.S. News and World Report ranked Alliant #1 in international diversity among national doctoral universities. According to Diverse Magazine, Alliant awarded more doctorate degrees to minority students than any other U.S. university. With headquarters in San Francisco and San Diego, Alliant also has campuses in Fresno, Los Angeles, Irvine, and Sacramento; it also hosts accredited programs in Mexico City, Mexico; Hong Kong, China and Tokyo, Japan.

About California Psychological Association (CPA)
The California Psychological Association (CPA) (http://www.cpapsych.org) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional association for licensed psychologists and others affiliated with the delivery of psychological services. CPA was founded in Los Angeles in 1948 initially to work for the licensure of psychologists. As the role of California psychologists expanded over the years, so did CPA. To more closely interact with the state legislature, CPA moved from Los Angeles to Sacramento in 1989, and has sponsored many legislative proposals that have resulted in greater access to mental health care services for the consumer and extended protection of the rights of psychologists to practice to the full extent allowed by law. In addition to the role of advocate for the profession of psychology, CPA's members regularly provide free public service through programs such as its Public Education Campaign and its well-respected disaster response service.