Reducing Media-Induced Mass Killings: Lessons From Suicide Prevention

Abstract

A mass killing is a complex behavior that is the product of a range of variables. Recent research suggests one such variable by showing that when a mass killing occurs there is a heightened chance of another occurring in the near future. This increase in probability has been referred to as contagion and one possible mechanism for contagion may be generalized imitation. Generalized imitation requires the presence of some model to prompt imitation, and we suggest media reporting methods as a prominent model inspiring future mass killings. This article analyzes mass killings as the culmination of a sequence of thoughts and actions that are influenced by environmental events including media reports of mass killings. We then evaluate media reporting guidelines and research related to the prevention of suicide and other imitational behaviors to identify reactive and proactive strategies that could minimize the likelihood of one mass killing inducing another.

Media Coverage of Mass Killers: Content, Consequences, and Solutions

“…After all, most people do not choose role models based solely on a description of behavior, if they have never seen that person’s face and do not even know that person’s name. Furthermore, if media reported the stories of mass killings in more responsible ways that did not glamorize perpetrators or overly dramatize these events (as suggested by Meindl & Ivy, 2018), this may similarly diminish both the quantity and potency of school shooting fan subcultures and copycat behaviors.…”

“…These misconceptions may be attributable to the extensive volume of media coverage given to mass killings and the sensationalistic ways in which coverage often focuses on perpetrators rather than on less exciting statistics about how rare these events actually are. In contrast, safer media coverage could potentially reduce both copycats and public fear by avoiding the description of any particular mass killing as part of an increasing trend, as this can serve to normalize the behavior and exaggerate the prevalence of the problem (Meindl & Ivy, 2018).…”

“…Along with providing a series of recommendations for safer news reporting, Meindl and Ivy (2018) also outline how the media could help reduce mass killings through proactive information campaigns. Past media efforts have successfully changed public perceptions of other highly imitative behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol use.…”

Why have public mass shootings become more deadly?

“…These types of influence have been analyzed by scholars using a variety of terms, including “contagion,” “imitation,” “inspiration,” and “copycat behavior” (Kissner, ; Langman, , ; Lankford & Madfis, ,b; Meindl & Ivy, ; Towers, Gomez‐Lievano, Khan, Mubayi, & Castillo‐Chavez, ). Although the precise effects are impossible to determine for every case, prior research findings indicate that these influences may increase some at‐risk individuals’ desires to attack at all, to kill for fame and attention, and/or to kill a large number of victims for a correspondingly larger amount of fame and attention (Kissner, ; Langman, , ; Lankford, ; Lankford & Madfis, ,b; Meindl & Ivy, ; Towers et al., ). For instance, sometimes the role model may primarily serve as inspiration, whereas in other cases, the role model is influential by vividly demonstrating that high‐fatality killers of this type are consistently rewarded by the media with fame (Lankford, ; Lankford & Madfis, ,b; Meindl & Ivy, ).…”

An integrated community mental healthcare program to reduce suicidal ideation and improve maternal mental health during the postnatal period: the findings from the Nagano trial

“…Various types of effective approaches have been developed for suicide prevention in non-perinatal areas, e.g. school-based programs [ 18 – 22 ], public awareness campaigns [ 23 – 26 ], primary care physician education [ 27 ], gatekeeper training [ 28 – 31 ], media reporting [ 32 – 35 ], media blackout [ 36 ], and screening [ 37 – 42 ]. These suicide prevention methods can be classified as population approaches (e.g.…”