should physc.evaluation be required before entering a university?

Question

the recent school shootings left me with this idea as a safty measure,is this a good idea?

Answer 1

I don't think there is any way to anticipate anyone doing something like that. The more likely result is that racial profiling will exclude kids for no valid reason. In fact, I doubt the Virginia Tech student would have been singled out in a psychiatric screening - he was Asian, and, based on history, virtually every mass murderer or serial killer has been a Caucasian male.

I remember the 1966 incident that happened at the University of Texas, when Charles Whitman barricaded himself in the university clock tower and killed 15 people before he himself was killed. Reading the student's biography, I don't know how anyone could have anticipated his actions. He was at one time the youngest Eagle scout in the country. Then his brain just went haywire. Personal problems (and we all have personal problems from time to time) got the better of him, and he snapped, killing his mother and wife before he went on his killing spree. He left hand-written notes saying he had no idea why he was doing these horrible things. We all have our demons, and we don't know if or when the demons will take control.

Answer 2

No, because psych evaluations are subjective, depending ont the interviewer no matter how "objective" the questions seem to be or even if on a paper psyche profile and has to do with the person at the time the are evaluated and their answers and a person that is used to living a lie or being a liar would still pass.

Also, the pscyhological trigger could occur well after the evalutation. It also does not take into account how drugs or alcohol that a student might start using to cope with the stresses of college life would react to a stressor.

It would not like catch the "truly gone crazy" for whatever the circumstances, but would deny borderline personalities, which would resent the denial of opportunity even more and might even be more likely to "go postal" on an employer if they are fired.

Answer 3

Let's say this person worked in a business instead of going to this university. If the same personal conditions existed, he would have shot up the place where he worked. What you are suggesting could be a slippery slope where that litmus test would be used throughout society. This taken to an extreme would lock people with a mental issue out of society. If you are suggesting that they be given a psyche eval, so that they can be given counseling as a requirement to stay in college, I think that would be a rather good idea. College can put a lot of people beyond the breaking point, so if you can identify those that may need help and get them that help before they break, things would be a lot better.

Answer 4

The sad reality is there is no way to totally stop things like this from happening. Not only could it happen at a school, but it could happen at someones office, a restaurant or other public place. If you were to make every possible student go through a psych evaluation there would be too many variables not to mention it probably violates some form of freedom to get an education. Who would you cut from the school? Depressed people? So many humans deal with depression and they don't kill people. I think a way of controlling this issue better would be to install metal detectors and more armed guards. If we can protect our airports better than we should be able to protect our schools better.

Answer 5

Being a college student myself, I can see where some may think that a psych. evaluation could be helpful. On the other hand, college life is stressful, trying to keep your grades up, trying to fit in with the current trends or campus life, all while trying to maintain a personal life along with a job, it can drive you nuts even if you were sane in the first place. Most campus' have counseling centers in their Psychology department, I would suggest if any student is feeling the overwhelming stress that they take advantage of this service. The psych. students are usually the counselors and not only can this help you by talking to someone who may know your situation, but it gives them practice also.

Answer 6

Maybe before buying a gun.

We still don't know what happened. When we get the facts, we'll be able to answer these questions better.

Answer 7

i totallt y agree with you on that one i beleieve that background checks on all families should be done as well to see if somone else in the family may have had a mental problems

Answer 8

yep thats all we needs all the crazy poeple un-educated and runnign the streets - that would be so much better,.