Copycat suicide

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Copycat suicide (also known as Contagion suicide or Suicide clustering) is a term used in the field of psychology and sociology to describe a suicide that occurs under the influence or inspiration of a previously reported suicide.

Pronunciation

  • Copycat: /ˈkɒpɪkæt/
  • Suicide: /ˈsuːɪsaɪd/

Etymology

The term "copycat" is derived from the English language, where it is used to describe the act of imitating or copying. The term "suicide" originates from the Latin "sui caedere", which means "to kill oneself".

Definition

A copycat suicide is a type of suicide that is triggered by exposure to the same method of suicide previously used by others, often high-profile individuals or celebrities. The individual committing the act may identify with the original suicide victim and decide to mimic their actions.

Related Terms

  • Werther effect: A spike in suicide rates after a widely publicized suicide, named after the protagonist in Goethe's novel "The Sorrows of Young Werther".
  • Suicide contagion: The exposure to suicide or suicidal behaviors within one's family, peer group, or through media reports of suicide and can result in an increase in suicide and suicidal behaviors.
  • Suicide cluster: A group of suicides or suicide attempts, or both, that occur closer together in time and space than would normally be expected in a given community.

See Also

External links

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