Legacy of Violence: Columbine’s Role in Shaping Public Perception and School Shootings

The Columbine High School shooting left an indelible mark on the national culture. To investigate the legacy of Columbine, workers on Prolific, an online research participant recruitment platform, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, completed a survey on which they indicated (a) which school shooting stood out most to them and (b) why Columbine appears to be salient in people’s memories. An examination of school shootings since Columbine meeting particular criteria were also examined for evidence of Columbine’s influence on the shooter. A generational effect was observed with older respondents (i.e., Prolific sample) indicating that Columbine was the most salient shooting to them. Within the student sample, Sandy Hook was the most memorable shooting. However, this generational effect did not extend to actual shooters. Forty-four shootings met our criteria, 22 of which were inspired by other shooters. Of these 22 shooters, 21were inspired by Columbine. Reasons for the influence of Columbine included it being a blueprint shooting, the extensive media coverage it received, and notoriety of the shooters. Columbine’s legacy remains particularly salient among those alive when it occurred and among school shooting perpetrators. The latter findings warrant additional research attention as they may serve as a warning sign.