IMATION OF AMOK AND AMOK-SUICIDE

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.