David Allen Grossman was born on August 23, 1956. He is an American author and trainer who teaches classes about the psychology of lethal force. He once served as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army and is no longer active in the military.
Post-military life
After retiring from the Army, Grossman started the Killology Research Group to teach law enforcement officers and soldiers about the physical and mental effects of using deadly force. He also gives talks at public events about ways to reduce violence in society and how to handle situations after violent events, such as school shootings. As a civilian, Grossman has served as an expert witness in many state and federal court cases. He was part of the team that prosecuted Timothy McVeigh in the United States vs. Timothy McVeigh case. In 2022, the Killology Research Group changed its name and brand to Grossman On Truth.
Works
Grossman's first book, On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society, examines the mental processes involved in killing another person. He explains that most people experience an extreme fear of violence and that soldiers must be trained specifically to overcome this fear and kill. He describes the physical effects of violent stress on humans, such as tunnel vision, changes in how people hear sounds, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Robert Engen, in a paper for the Canadian Military Journal, criticized On Killing, stating that while the book is a good starting point, it has many problems in its interpretation and should not be considered the final answer on the subject. Grossman responded in the same journal, arguing that S. L. A. Marshall's findings—that humans are not naturally inclined to kill, even after questions about his research methods—have been supported by later scientific studies and real-world experiences. These findings have influenced military and police training for more than 50 years. On Killing has been cited more than 3,300 times, according to Google Scholar.
In Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence, Grossman argues that techniques used by armies to train soldiers to kill are similar to those found in certain video games. He claims that violent video games, especially first-person shooter games where players hold a weapon-like controller, teach children how to use weapons and make them emotionally desensitized to killing by simulating the act of killing hundreds or thousands of opponents in a single game. He has repeatedly referred to first-person shooter games as "murder simulators."
His third non-fiction book, On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace, expands on his first book. It provides strategies for managing the physical and mental effects of violence for people who kill others as part of their jobs, such as soldiers and police officers.
Criticism
A professor of criminal justice at the University of Nebraska, Samuel Walker, described Grossman's training as "suitable for Green Berets but not suitable for police work in the United States." He stated that top police leaders in the country avoid this type of training.
In 2019, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey prohibited training methods he called "fear-based," which included Grossman's seminars. A law banning these training methods across the state of Minnesota was passed in 2020.
Patents
- Firearms Safety Patent: Ergonomic Grip for a Slide of a Semiautomatic Firearm, Inventors: David Grossman, Jon Grossman, Patent No. D697,997
- Firearms Safety Patent: Off-Trigger Locator for a Firearm, Inventors: Bruce Siddle, David Grossman, Jon Grossman, Patent No. 8,671,605, Patent No. D697,996
- Firearms Safety Patent: Off-Trigger Locator Attachment, Inventors: Bruce Siddle, David Grossman, Jon Grossman, Patent No. D701280
- Firearms Safety Patent: Safety Index for a Firearm, Inventors: David Grossman, Jon Grossman, Patent No. D697,998
- Firearms Safety Patent: Micro-Front Sight for a Firearm, Inventors: David Grossman, Jon Grossman, Patent No. D701284