VOA标准英语2011-Experts Say Violence Not Necessarily Link

When violent incidents such as the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others occur, many people wonder what caused the violence. Some leading researchers say mental illness is not necessarily connected to violence.

It is often the first question that one hears when a violent incident such as the Arizona shootings occurs: Why? And the second question is often about the perpetrator: Is he or she mentally ill?

John Monahan, a psychologist with the University of Virginia's law school, told VOA there are several factors that cause violence, but mental illness is not necessarily a contributor.

 

University of Virginia
John Monahan, University of Virginia Law School
"It is the case that there is a relationship between mental illness and violence but the relationship is not strong and it is heavily related to whether the mentally ill individual is also abusing alcohol or other drugs, says Monahan.

"People with a major mental illness such as schizophrenia or manic depression, if they are not also on drugs or alcohol - and in particular if they are in mental health treatment - have no higher rates of violence than do their non-disordered neighbors."

The accused shooter in Arizona, Jared Lee Loughner, has not been diagnosed with a mental illness, but news reports have quoted some of Loughner's friends as describing erratic² behavior, marijuana use, and unexplained outbursts in class.

Loughner's own writings posted on the Internet have spoken of his beliefs that the U.S. government was controlling a secret currency, controlling his mind and even controlling the words that make up language.

Police have found notes in his room that say such things as "I planned ahead" and "my assassination³."

Some of his behavior mirrors some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, but it should be stressed that he has not been diagnosed with that disorder¹.

 

Duke University
Dr. Marvin Swartz, Duke University
Marvin Swartz, M.D., is a leading researcher specializing in mental illness and violence at Duke University. He says predicting violent outbursts is difficult, but there are risk factors for violent behavior.

"Predicting this kind of level of extreme violence and very tragic⁴ violence is very hard to do because it is so rare, he says, "but in general there are some risk factors for violence among folks with serious mental illness and they include things like substance use, not being in treatment, not adhering with treatment.

Dr. Swartz says there also are environmental factors, particularly if people live in environments that are very disorganized, "essentially⁵ poor neighborhoods where there is a lot ambient crime and substance abuse – all those are risk factors for violence."

 

Duke University
Social Scientist Jeffrey Swanson studies mental illness and violence in populations
Jeffrey Swanson, a social scientist who studies mental illness and violence in populations says distorted thinking does not necessarily indicate a propensity⁶ to violence.

"The question of whether someone is mentally ill or has distorted thinking should be separated from the question of whether they are likely to commit a violent act because they may or may no, says Swanson. "Lots of people who are mentally ill never commit violent acts."

All three of the researchers contacted for this report said substance abuse is a big factor in violent behavior. All of them said that mental illness coupled with substance abuse can trigger violent episodes.

But Dr. Swartz stressed that a very small percentage of those diagnosed with mental illness ever commit violent acts.

"I think that it's also important to recognize that very little violence in society is attributable to mental illness and that folks who have mental illnesses and are afforded good treatment generally really do not have an elevated risk of violence."

None of those contacted for this report saw a direct connection between political rhetoric⁷ and violent outbursts. All three researchers said that predicting which individuals would become violent is extremely difficult.

 

Reuters
Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect in the attempted assassination of US Representative Gabrielle Giffords, is shown in this Pima County Sheriff's Forensic⁸ Unit handout⁹ photograph released, 10 Jan 2011
Officials at Pima Community College, where the alleged¹⁰ shooter in Arizona, Jared Lee Loughner, attended classes, told his parents he could only return to class if he underwent a mental health evaluation¹¹. Loughner did not have the evaluation and did not return to class.

None of Lougnner's friends, teachers or his parents asked for a court-appointed counselor¹² to interview him.

News reports quoting his friends and classmates say he had a strained relationship with his parents and that he had difficulty holding a job.

It is not clear whether mental health treatment would have prevented the Arizona shootings, but the researchers contacted for this report say getting treatment is a key element in preventing violent behavior.

1 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

2 erratic   

adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的

参考例句：

• The old man had always been cranky and erratic.那老头儿性情古怪,反复无常。
• The erratic fluctuation of market prices is in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。

3 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

4 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 propensity   

n.倾向；习性

参考例句：

• He has a propensity for drinking too much alcohol.他有酗酒的倾向。
• She hasn't reckoned on his propensity for violence.她不曾料到他有暴力倾向。

7 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

8 forensic   

adj.法庭的，雄辩的

参考例句：

• The report included his interpretation of the forensic evidence.该报告包括他对法庭证据的诠释。
• The judge concluded the proceeding on 10:30 Am after one hour of forensic debate.经过近一个小时的法庭辩论后，法官于10时30分宣布休庭。

9 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

12 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。