Copycat crime
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | A '''''copycat''''' (also '''''copy-cat''''' or '''''copy cat''''') is a person (or animal, or computer program) that mimics or repeats the [[behavior]] of another. The expression may derive from [[kitten]]s that learned by imitating the behaviors of their mothers. It has been in use since at least [[1896 in literature|1896]], in [[Sarah Orne Jewett|Sarah Orne Jewett's]] "[[The Country of the Pointed Firs]]". The term is often derogatory, suggesting a lack of originality. | ||
| - | ''[[Copycat crimes]]'' are the waves of similar crimes that are sometimes committed shortly after a particularly notorious or unusual crime is reported; they range from [[shoplifting]] of particular items to [[copycat suicide]]s and [[murder]]s. | + | '''Copycat crimes''' are criminal acts that are modeled on previous crimes that have been reported in the media. |
| - | The "[[copycat effect]]" refers to the tendency of sensational publicity about a violent murder or suicide to cause more of the same. | + | ==Copycat Effect== |
| + | The '''copycat effect''' refers to the tendency of sensational publicity about violent murders or suicides to result in more of the same through imitation. It is also the name of a book on the subject by [[Loren Coleman]]. | ||
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| + | == Research on etiology of copycat crimes == | ||
| + | It has been shown that most of the persons who do mimic crimes seen in the media (especially news and crime movies) have in most cases prior criminal records, prior severe mental health problems or histories of violence suggesting that the effect of the media is indirect (more affecting criminal behaviour) rather than direct (directly affecting the number of criminals). It has also been seen that there is a certain small population of people who are at more risk for harmful media influences than the general audience. | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[Copycat]] | ||
| + | * [[Crime]] | ||
| + | * [[Copycat suicide]] | ||
| + | * [[Media influence]] | ||
| + | * [[Life imitating art]] | ||
| + | * [[Fear of crime]] | ||
| + | * [[Gun violence]] | ||
| + | * [[Hate crime]] | ||
| + | * [[Insanity defense]] | ||
| + | * [[Sex crime]] | ||
| + | * [[Social policy]] | ||
| + | * [[Victimology]] | ||
| - | In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]], and elsewhere, the word is well-known from an anonymous schoolchildren's poem describing corporal punishment as a consequence of schoolroom plagiarism. | ||
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Copycat crimes are criminal acts that are modeled on previous crimes that have been reported in the media.
Copycat Effect
The copycat effect refers to the tendency of sensational publicity about violent murders or suicides to result in more of the same through imitation. It is also the name of a book on the subject by Loren Coleman.
Research on etiology of copycat crimes
It has been shown that most of the persons who do mimic crimes seen in the media (especially news and crime movies) have in most cases prior criminal records, prior severe mental health problems or histories of violence suggesting that the effect of the media is indirect (more affecting criminal behaviour) rather than direct (directly affecting the number of criminals). It has also been seen that there is a certain small population of people who are at more risk for harmful media influences than the general audience.
See also
- Copycat
- Crime
- Copycat suicide
- Media influence
- Life imitating art
- Fear of crime
- Gun violence
- Hate crime
- Insanity defense
- Sex crime
- Social policy
- Victimology
