The phenomenon of inheritance on the example of the Werter effect

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to acquaint readers with the Werther effect and its effect on humans. Often, we cannot understand what prompted someone to do something, especially if it is a voluntary end to life. The Werther effect is a wave of suicides committed after active media coverage of a suicide committed by someone or a description of it in a product of mass culture (book, film, TV series, etc.). The Werther effect is also associated with Tard's law of imitation. Imitation is realized in the form of customs and fashions, the assimilation of which is the socialization of the individual. In a pandemic, people's lives have changed radically and are unlikely to return to their usual rhythm. This forces us to adapt to new conditions and try to neutralize the impact of these negative effects on the psyche. After all, a person who is in constant stress and anxiety for the life and health of family and friends, and for their own, negative news has a stronger impact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get rid of unpleasant thoughts. People often want to feel involved, to be in a group, to be part of a movement. The Werther effect also suggests that imitative suicides are most often committed by people who have something common with the suicide whose story is covered in the media. This may be due to age, employment or problems that prompted the person to take the fatal step. They can understand it. These people have long since lost hope, are burdened by life's difficulties and problems. Celebrity suicides or the romanticization of suicide in popular culture also have a negative effect on people. Some people begin to see in such a death something beautiful and aesthetic. Authorities and public services are trying to reduce the effect of the Werther effect, suicides in the media are described without much detail and in general, with a neutral emotional color.