Schools as Stages of Trauma: Psychological Dimensions of Cinematic School Shootings Across Genres

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, Early View

Published Online: 29 July 2026, Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.22

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

Schools as Stages of Trauma: Psychological Dimensions of Cinematic School Shootings Across Genres

Travmanın Sahnesi Olarak Okullar: Sinematik Okul Katliamlarının Türler Arası Psikolojik Boyutları

Cenk Ateş¹ , Hacer Aker¹

Abstract:

This study aims to analyze the psychological representations of school shootings in cinema. The films analyzed within the scope of the study are 22 July (2018), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Lessons from a School Shooting: Notes from Dunblane (2018), We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), Polytechnique (2009), Klass (2007), and Elephant (2003). Selected through purposive sampling and a maximum diversity strategy, these films comprise documentary, docudrama, and entirely fictional genres. Thematic content analysis was used in the study; analysis was conducted particularly on psychological themes such as individual psychopathology, post-traumatic stress processes, cycles of shame, identity crises, breakdowns in family-child relationships, and peer bullying. The findings show that documentary films reveal systemic dimensions such as gun culture, media discourse, and social trauma; docudrama films focus on factors such as ideology, gender inequality, and family breakdown; and fictional films highlight problems in parent-child relationships and the psychological effects of peer bullying. Consequently, school shootings are complex phenomena that can be understood not only in terms of security and sociological dimensions but also in terms of individual psychological vulnerabilities. By representing this multilayered structure, cinema contributes to developing a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of violence. The study emphasizes the need for future research to examine psychosocial support mechanisms, family-child communication, and media representations with larger samples.

Keywords: School massacres, Psychology, Trauma, Peer bullying, Family relationships, Cinema.

¹Selcuk University, Faculty of Communication, Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, Konya, Türkiye.

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Hacer Aker, Selcuk University, Faculty of Communication, No: 311, Selçuklu, Konya, Türkiye, E-mail: [email protected].

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 28.10.2025, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 16.03.2026, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 23.03.2026, Date of Online Publication/Çevirimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 03.08.2026

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Ateş, C. & Aker, H. (2026). Predictive effects of social media addiction on emotional ıntelligence and communication skills among healthcare professionals. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.22

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/