Newsletter Archives

Julia Kupper and Stephen White Spring, 2023 In this feature, our colleague and guest contributor, Julia Kupper, introduces tactical and forensic linguistic methodologies – a promising aid in investigating language evidence for the risk of targeted violence across various populations of concern.

Philip Saragoza, M.D. Winter, 2023 An increasingly common issue I see in my consulting is organizations struggling with what to do about an employee who is exhibiting disconcerting or disruptive behavior, but that doesn’t include outright aggression, hostility or threats. These behaviors are often reflective of different types of mental health and/or substance use issues, but not yet identified as …

Reid Meloy, Ph.D. & Molly Amman, J.D. Summer, 2022 For those of you trying to convince senior management to commit sufficient resources for a credible and sustained best practices protocol – show them this feature by Reid Meloy and our colleague Molly Amman. Another sign that with the increase in risk of violence in organizational settings comes increased exposure to …

Philip Saragoza, M.D.Spring, 2022 In this feature, our senior associate Phil Saragoza discusses an issue he has followed closely over the past few years – our increasingly dangerous politics and the implications for us threat assessors. Here he previews what he will present at ATAP in August as one of the keynote speakers on the opening day of the national …

Stephen White, Ph.D.Winter, 2022 On March 8th and 9th Reid Meloy and I will conduct our annual two-day WAVR-21 training, open to threat assessment practitioners across all disciplines. Please see the adjoining reminder in this newsletter for more details. We are excited to see the robust response in registrations, both in person and virtually. Among the issues we address in …

In this feature, reprinted from Psychology Today, Reid Meloy identifies the commonalities that all extremist ideologies share. As threat assessors, his formulation informs our understanding of the link between beliefs and violence. Reid Meloy, Ph.D.Fall, 2021 We are awash in reports of extremist beliefs, extremist groups, acts of terrorism, and threats from the left and the right.  Concerns about extremism …

Philip Saragoza, M.D. & Stephen White, Ph.D.Spring, 2021 In this feature, we discuss the challenge of identifying conspiracy theorists who pose a risk of violence – a topic we will address in our upcoming workshop, Violent Extremism, 2021: A Threat Assessment Update, May 10-13. On Christmas day, 2020, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, lone actor Anthony Warner detonated a bomb from …

Stephen White, Ph.D.Winter, 2021 In this feature, Stephen White discusses workplace trauma – the impact of life-threatening violent incidents on employees and an organization, and what leadership can do to support recovery and restore business functioning. The recent attack on the US Capitol and its myriad implications is the subject of intense national attention. Impassioned debate, calls for investigations and …

Stephen White, Ph.D.Summer, 2020 “If honor enables us to ‘make the best of our own lives’, the continual experience of dishonor makes it impossible to live well.” Amy Shuffleton1 Does the concept of honor have utility for threat assessors? I have found the views of some contemporary philosophers and sociologists to be complementary to a psychological perspective on violent motives, …

Philip Saragoza, MDWinter, 2020   In this feature WTS Senior Associate Phil Saragoza describes the growing problem of men who identify as “involuntary celibates” and the implications for threat assessors. On April 23, 2018, 25-year-old Alek Minassian intentionally drove a van over sidewalks in broad daylight in downtown Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring many more. Hours later he sat …