The effect of publicized mass murders and murder-suicides on lethal violence, 1968-1980. A research note

Abstract

Previous work on publicized violence on television newcasts has been largely restricted to suicidal behavior. Many of the cases of publicized suicide, however, involve not only a suicide but a murder; they could also trigger homicides. In addition, from Menninger's perspective, suicide involves both a wish to die and a wish to kill. Hence, publicized mass murders may trigger imitiative suicides as well as imitative homicides. Focusing on mass murder-suicides, and mass murders that made two or three network news (ABC, CBS & NBC), the present study explores their impact on lethal aggression. It uses monthly data from 1968-1980. Controls are introduced for seasonal and economic predictors of aggression. Publicized mass murder/suicides are significantly associated with increases in the suicide rate. The homicide rate, in contrast, is not affected by publicized mass-murder/suicides. Publicized mass murders, in general, were unrelated to lethal aggression. One special type, publicized gangland mass murders, were, however, associated with increases in suicide.