Werther Effect in School Shooter Events?

Examining Potential Copycat BehaviorDaniel R. HughesDarrin J. Griffin, Ph.D.

Abstract

If it bleeds it leads – this is an unfortunate but real mentality in the industry of news media. Reporting practices have led to what is perceived as sensationalism of negative events. The Werther effect establishes the connection between suicide events publicized and a spike in incidents of suicide that follow. It must also be considered that this phenomena may also apply to other sensationalized negative events enacted by criminals. Most recently, active shooter events have become heavily publicized in the media. This begets a logical question: Are there copycat active shooters?

Research Questions

Methods

• Analyzed manifestos and other written material by school shooters available publically

• Incorporated 10 years of relational data (shooter mentions another shooter/killer) from shooters’ writings into a relational matrix

• Used UCINET social network analysis software to construct network visualization

• Used relational data to mathematically calculate quantitative centrality scores for shooters

• Analyzed Google Trends to illustrate that the media “idolize” the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings repeatedly

Conclusions / Significance

Future Directions

Bibliography

• Include more data from earlier shooting events to access the relations and influences of earlier perpetrators

• Create a timeline to examine clustering

• Develop ethical journalistic practices

• Based on the data / visualization a Werther or copycat effect is not likely occurring

• There is evidence to suggest that a idolization phenomenon is occurring amongst shooters

• Google search trends reveal that mention of events such as Columbine are republished when similar events occur, further perpetuating the legacy of past (idolized) shooters – and internet searches are spiked in response to media (re)portrayals

• Is there a copycat effect occurring between school shooters?

• Do journalistic/media practices potentially influence the perpetuation of school shooter incidents?

Acknowledgements

• Adam Lankford, Ph.D.UA - Department of Criminal Justice

• Mike Egnoto, Ph.D.University of Maryland

• www.schoolshooters.info

• www.google.com/trends

• Kim, J. H., et al. (2013). The Werther effect of two celebrity suicides: An entertainer and a politician. PlOSone, 8.

Legend

Most referenced shooters / killer Referenced to by only one shooter

Contains inward and outward references

Contains outward references only

Referenced by one shooter

Center off graph

Legend

Columbine

Virginia Tech