Concerning behavior

Far too often, communities have witnessed mass injury and loss of life at the hands of an attacker, only to learn that the perpetrator had a long history of threatening or concerning behaviors.

As research continues to show, individuals planning acts of targeted violence almost always exhibit observable concerning behaviors, offering opportunities for intervention and redirection before criminal behavior or violence occurs.

Concerning behaviors include actions or communications by an individual that are troubling or inappropriate and indicate a potential risk of violence.

Concerning behaviors exist along a continuum of criminal and non-criminal activities and may include escalating interpersonal disputes, grievances, concerning social media content, stalking and harassing, obsessions with violence, idolizing past attackers, fixating on people or locations, suicidal ideations, self-harm, unusual levels of aggression, threats, or other behaviors that elicit concerns for safety.

In addition to receiving tips about potential school violence, programs like Safe2Tell also receive tips about other concerning behaviors involving students, such as bullying, drug use, depression, suicide, and self-harm, all of which have been observed as common precursors to school violence.

Any violent, threatening, or disturbing communications which may be conveyed verbally (e.g., in-person or via phone), in writing (e.g., journals or drawings), electronically (e.g., text messages or emails), online (e.g., websites, blogs, or social media), or by other means.

A pattern of conduct that willfully and maliciously causes another to feel bullied, stalked, persecuted, threatened, injured, or attacked.

Family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and others may have been concerned about an individual’s demeanor, mental wellbeing, threatening or disturbing communications, harassing or other violent behavior, obsession with weapons or violent topics, isolating or withdrawing from others, substance use or abuse, or other concerning behaviors.

Concerning or threatening communications • Interest in violent topics • History of violence • Stalking, harassing, or bullying • Extreme beliefs • Fixations • Behavior changes • Desperation or despair • Intense anger or aggression • Inconsistency • Planning and final acts

Concerning behavior: Actions or communications by an individual that are troubling or inappropriate and indicate a potential risk of violence.

Concerning behaviors exist along a continuum of criminal and non-criminal activities and may include escalating interpersonal disputes, grievances, concerning social media content, stalking and harassing, obsessions with violence, idolizing past attackers, fixating on people or locations, suicidal ideations, self-harm, unusual levels of aggression, threats, and other behaviors that elicit concerns for safety.