IMATION OF AMOK AND AMOK-SUICIDE

Year 2002, , 49 - 60, 01.06.2002

A Schmıdtke S. Schaller İ. Mıller

https://doi.org/10.1501/Kriz_0000000182

Abstract

In the scientific literatüre there is no doubt
that imitation effects on aggression and suicide
exist. The reporting or portrayal of aggressive or
suicidal behaviour might be influential in the
short and long term. Previous data suggest that
also amok behaviour might be imitated. An
analysis of 132 reports of amok events for the
time period 01. 01. 1993 - 30. 06. 2000 in two
majör German nevvspapers shovved that the
majority of amok events are not distributed by
chance över time. Most amok events follovv an
other event in a period of time vvhich is within the
frame given by many studies of imitation: 10
days in Phillips (1974) studies, 18 days in the
study by Schmidtke & Hâfner (1988). This
uneven distribution speaks for a possible trigger
effect. There are also examples of a strong
similarity betvveen the events with regard to
person variables and the "modus operandi" of
the acts. Therefore, it may be dangerous to
report about amok events in a sensational way.
The reporting may trigger the same attitude and
behaviour in persons who found themselves in a
similar state of mood. That it would be possible
to use the media also for preventing such acts is
clearly shown by some studies on media effects
on suicidal behaviour.

Keywords

İmitation, modelling, amok, suicide

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