本文以英文文獻資料回顧，探討大規模殺人的歷史、定義、類型 以及盛行率，最後並討論大規模殺人是否有逐漸增加的趨勢。作者首 先指出，大規模殺人與隨機、無差別殺人各自有不同的切入點。大規 模殺人曾經被認爲是一種狂暴殺人，是一個特殊的文化精神醫學的議 題，但隨著西方世界近代揭露的大規模殺人案例，硏究者發現，這個 現象存在於各個社會之中。當大規模殺人與連續殺人逐步分開後，硏 究者開始對大規模殺人的犯案人數、受害人數、時間、地點等因素進 行定義。目前多數意見認爲，是以至少四人受害，不限定加害者數 目，連續時間內，鄰近地點所發生的案件。本文也討論了許多硏究者 所提出類型分類，並且指出類型與分類的困難。接著，討論關於發生 數與盛行率的各家硏究，一般認爲I960年代之後大規模殺人現象並未 有明顯增加，但是，大規模公共槍撃卻造成民眾與媒體的刻板印象。 此外，占多數的家庭內大規模殺人以及重罪大規模殺人，則鮮少引起 注意。進一步分析發現，大規模公共槍撃有明顯增加的趨勢，至於家 庭內大規模殺人槍撃案也有可能增加。作者認爲，這樣的回顧，對於 臺灣過往習慣用隨機或無差別殺人來硏究相關議題，可以有對照比較 的觀點。

This article examined the history, definition, typology and prevalence of mass murder, and discussed whether there is a gradual increase in mass murder. The author first pointed out that mass murder and random, indiscriminate homicide, each has a different starting point of view. Mass murder had been considered as amok, a particular issue of cultural psychiatry. After the Western world in recent years exposed several mass murder cases, the yet found that this phenomenon exists in various societies. When researchers separated mass homicide and serial murder, after all, they began to define mass murder with the number of offenders, the number of victims, time, location and related factors. At present, most agreed no less than four victims, no limited to the number of offenders, a continuous time, nearby locations to define a mass murder case. This article also discussed the types and classification proposed by many researchers and points out the difficulties of type and classification. The article also discussed the incidents and prevalence of the various studies of mass murder and concluded that after the 1960s the phenomenon did not significantly increase. But mass public shooting has become a stereotype to the public and the media. Also, familial mass murder and families and felony-related mass murder, which constituted the majority of mass murder cases, got little if any attention. Further analysis found that mass public shooting did show a significant increase in the trend, as the familial mass murder might also increase. The author believes that this review, for Taiwan used to apply random or indiscriminate homicide to investigate the relevant issues, can offer be an alternative viewpoint.