The Werther Effect is a term used in psychology, which refers to the phenomenon where media reports on suicide can lead to an increase in suicide rates, particularly through imitation. It is named after the protagonist of “The Sorrows of Young Werther” (1774) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
The term was coined by sociologist David Phillips in the 1970s to describe the contagious nature of suicide, where sensational or romanticized portrayals of suicide in the media could inspire vulnerable individuals to take their own lives in a similar manner. Key characteristics of media reports that contribute to the Werther Effect include:
1. Excessive or sensationalist coverage of the method of suicide.
2. Glamorizing the individual who died by suicide or their reasons for it.
3. Failing to mention mental health resources or alternatives to suicide.
For the opposite of the Werther Effect: Papageno Effect.
