Massemord kan begås på familie, kolleger, studerende eller tilfældige fremmede. Mordernes motiver kan være raseri, økonomisk vinding, religiøs [[fanatisme]] og sindssygdom. .<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1612368,00.html |title=Inside a Mass Murderer's Mind – TIME<!-- Robotgenereret titel --> |access-date=21. februar 2008 |archive-date=22. april 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422063828/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0%2C8599%2C1612368%2C00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mange andre motiver er mulige, deriblandt opmærksomhed eller berømmelse. <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=4267309&page=2 |title=ABC News: What Pushes Shooters Over the Edge?<!-- Robotgenereret titel --> |access-date=21. februar 2008 |archive-date=29. juni 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629040017/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=4267309&page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.newser.com/story/18672.html?rss=y Notoriety Drives Mass Shooters – Arts & Living news | Newser<!-- Robotgenereret titel -->]</ref><ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/VATech/Story?id=3056168&page=2 ABC News: Psychiatrist: Showing Video Is 'Social Catastrophe'<!-- Robotgenereret titel -->]</ref>.
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