Luigi Mangione, Flips The American Script?

 

Well, this one is an interesting sociological case study, isn't it?

I say sociological, rather than psychological, because of public reaction to it - but perhaps the field of social psychology would be the best fit.

For starters, you can't say the usual suspects, can you?

A good-looking kid from wealth and privilege, valedictorian at his prep school, attended Ivy League college for both his undergrade and his master's, and until recently, close with his family and a ton of friends, seemingly happy, "normal" - then shoots and kills someone he considers a symbol of the corporate culture that afforded his family that privilege?

Interestingly, rather than dig up dirt on him, the press is almost sympathetic towards him, speaking of "debilitating" back pain and surgery in 2023 and possible mounting medical bills for a young adult as a potential motive.

So ... is that because of his family's wealth and privilege again, or this time, is it because he's become a sort of folk hero to many Americans who imagine a "nobler" cause of fighting against corporate America, particularly healthcare?

Similarly, is the extra press attention, on both side of politics - as well as the well-publicized nationwide manhunt and "Wanted" poster postings - because he shot a corporate CEO or because people are fascinated with this story?

(Well, he also embarrassed NYPD by shooting Brian Thompson in supposedly the most secure, well monitored areas of NYC, so they  definitely wanted their man after that.)

Time will tell. 

Regardless, therein may lie Mangione's point.

What seemed like a senseless act of violence that ended in the murder of a CEO that would do little to nothing to change our healthcare system in and of itself, may have ramped up the conversation on the high cost of healthcare versus the profits some healthcare companies are making.

In the end, will this change the way we look at healthcare or will it entrench it? 

Again, time will tell.