Mass shootings and the copycat effect: Global prevalence outside the United States (1999-2022)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24310/bc.32.2025.20727Keywords:
mass shooting, copycat effect, global eventsAbstract
This study examines mass shootings where the “copycat effect” is present, with the exception of those carried out in the United States, during the period 1999-2022. This phenomenon occurs when perpetrators of a mass shooting copy the modus operandi of previous attacks, which are then projected as a model. The study sample includes 21 copycat cases, executed in 9 countries. The study reveals that these crimes are perpetrated by men, under the
age of 34, predominantly in school settings and the perpetrators often end in suicide. The empirical results also reveal that in countries where these cases are more frequent, they also set role models for subsequent shooters. In conclusion, the small number of copycat behaviors does not prevent these events from being studied, especially in an era in which the internet and the media contribute to their constant globalization.
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