In his study of the effects of media coverage of teenage suicides, David Phillips found that:
A) coverage of the confusion and grief surrounding the suicides produced a decrease in teen suicides following the coverage
B) there was an increase in teen suicides following the coverage
C) the suicide rate following the coverage remained surprisingly unchanged, pointing to the limited effects of media coverage of news events
D) the suicide rate increased moderately at first, followed by a sharp decrease as mental health workers responded to the crisis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

David Phillips' study found that there was an increase in teen suicides following media coverage of teenage suicides. This phenomenon is known as the "Werther effect" or "copycat suicide," where media coverage of suicides can trigger vulnerable individuals to imitate the suicidal behavior.

In His Study of the Effects of Media Coverage of Teenage