Psychiatrist on video game-shooting link: There are better predictors

Psychiatrist Dr. Randy Loy Rellosa explained that several factors are stronger predictors of a person becoming a shooter than video games, underscoring that the narrative around gaming overlooks deeper causes.

In an interview with ANC, the psychiatrist noted that playing video games such as Counter Strike or Roblox won’t necessarily influence someone to commit shootings, adding that predictors such as weapon access have bigger roles.

“There are Counter Strike players, Roblox players, but they don’t necessarily [inaudible], they don’t become shooters,” Dr. Rellosa said.

Dr. Rellosa listed predictors he considered more effective, which included acute grievances, weapon access, fascination, and the perpetrator leaking their intentions online.

“These are factors that need to be considered because we don’t want to be simplistic in attributing causes,” the psychiatrist said.

He also added the influence of online peers and communities as a possible factor, explaining that online groups could “groom” people into committing shootings.

“These are not just other players, these are people. Perhaps there’s a syndicate or group that actually does these things, and they groom very slowly until they are able to prod the person to actually do it,” Dr. Rellosa remarked.

Furthermore, Dr. Rellosa explained that publicity could also drive more people into committing shootings, using the publicity around the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting as an example.

“What it does is it emboldens. It emboldens other potential shooters to do the same thing. Why? Because they’re infused to do this. They want to do this and finally, they have this ‘hero’ who did it,” he expounded.

He clarified that he referred to the Zamboanga shooter as a “hero” as potential shooters may perceive the shooter as such.

“He got the publicity, he was sadly successful at what he did, and now, potential shooters are raring to do the same,” Dr. Rellosa elaborated, advising the media to implement guidelines on “what to do and what not to do.”

Dr. Rellosa highlighted that bullied people, people with mental conditions, or gamers becoming shooters are exceptions, further underlining the significance of identifying other causes before looking for causes he considers “abnormalities.”