Susanna Riva At a school in Rome, a thirteen-year-old boy stabbed a teacher who had given him two tests. The incident caused a stir not only because of the violence, but also because of the underlying causes, which experts believe go far beyond a simple school conflict.
The episode in Rome: a 13-year-old boy stabs his teacher
After receiving the notification of his debts, the boy reacted with extreme violence, going so far as to stab the teacher with a knife and filming the entire scene. The recording was then released on digital channels, where the young man described it as "considered so heroic that he wanted to show it."
The authorities immediately launched an investigation, emphasizing that the episode represents an extreme and worrying case of school violence .
Risk factors: overexposure to the internet and violent content
According to psychologist Anna Maria Giannini of Sapienza University of Rome, the primary factor is prolonged exposure to the world of the internet . " These are very different elements, but together they become relevant ," she states, highlighting that time spent online, combined with violent content, can transform young people into passive spectators of aggressive models.
“Prolonged exposure can lead people who have a high immersive tendency to become permeated by what they see, for example by violent content, and the perpetrators of violent actions are often perceived as heroes.”
The effect of too much time online
When kids spend hours in front of screens, the line between physical reality and the virtual world becomes blurred. This phenomenon can weaken empathy, because cyber violence doesn't have immediately perceptible consequences. Giannini notes that confusing the two realms " risks confusing the physical world with the online world to the point of failing to consider the consequences and the other's emotions ."
Managing Frustration and Emotional Response in Children
The second crucial element is the inability to process frustration . " We know that aggression increases when something gets in the way of our needs, such as a debt at school ," explains Giannini. The failure to develop constructive strategies leads to impulsive reactions. " A non-constructive reaction, that is, one 'inappropriate to frustration,' leads to a sharp increase in aggression ," adds the researcher, emphasizing how the lack of emotional training is dangerous.
Constructive reactions vs. non-constructive reactions
In an ideal educational context, the young person should accept the obstacle and respond by studying harder, as Giannini suggests: " For example, when faced with debt, I study harder ." However, without a gradual process of emotional learning, the child finds himself dealing with frustration in a dysfunctional way, triggering violence. The combination of the internet and frustration creates an " explosive mix " that facilitates extreme behavior.
Loss of teacher authority and the influence of new models
Giannini also observes that the role of teachers in shaping values has changed radically. " Today, teachers are no longer considered in the values they should have . In the past, their authority was recognized and there was respect. There is no set of values that fosters growth: it has completely reversed and has now shifted to influencers." The shift from the role of the teacher to that of the digital influencer reduces the ability to convey norms of coexistence, fueling a culture in which violence can appear "heroic."
School authorities and parents are now called upon to reflect on preventative strategies, including digital education and emotional intelligence courses, to prevent similar episodes from happening again.