Copycatting

Copycatting Definition

Copycatting refers to the process by which media accounts of events encourage individuals in other areas to imitate reported behaviours, potentially leading to an increased occurrence of that original behaviour. This mechanism is often discussed in relation to the broader concept known as the copycat effect, which denotes the supposed power of mass media to generate a widespread imitation of actions or attitudes among the public.

The Copycat Effect

The copycat effect is frequently used to describe the influence of mass media on social behaviour, suggesting that exposure to reported events can trigger a rash of imitative actions. For instance, if media portrays a specific deviant act, there is a theoretical expectation that this will result in an increase in similar behaviours among viewers or readers.

Application and Critique

This concept has been applied in sociological explanations, such as attempts to account for outbreaks of urban violence following the reporting of initial riots. However, critics argue that relying solely on the copycat theory is insufficient as a standalone explanation, noting that violent outbreaks do not consistently follow media reporting across all cities. Furthermore, empirical evidence supporting these effects is often difficult to establish outside of controlled experimental settings. A practical difficulty arises because much of the available evidence stems from individuals attributing criminal or deviant acts to prior examples, raising uncertainty about whether genuine imitation has occurred or if people are merely opportunistically seeking to evade responsibility.