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By Jack Singer, Clinical Psychologist
Want to get 15 minutes of fame? How about 15 days or weeks of fame?
Here’s the answer: just brutally kill someone, get the attention of the media, and there you go.
O.J Simpson….Casey Anthony…now Jodi Arias and alleged cop killer Christoper Dorner. Psychopaths whose crimes make titillating stories, are covered extensively and breathlessly by the media like they are reality shows, and the stars of the show become famous. We can’t wait until the next day to discover what happens in these real life soap operas. And in the cases of Simpson and Anthony, sometimes they even get away with it! What Hollywood writer could script a more exciting story?
What is our curiosity with psychopaths and their exploits all about? Perhaps we are fascinated because we can’t imagine committing such horrific crimes, and then having absolutely no remorse. Therefore, these people seem to us like outliers from the human species, much like terrorists who easily sacrifice their lives and have no compunction about killing innocent people.
We are glued to Nancy Grace… Joan Velez Mitchell… Dr. Drew, and their producers are lined up at the courthouses so we can all get a glimpse of these monsters and hear their stories. We’re fascinated by their stories and even by the lies they tell and the explanations their lawyers fabricate. It’s really the theatre of the absurd.
Sadly though, besides the murder victims themselves, there are other victims present in the courtrooms that are exposed to all of us peeking in on their pain. These are the devastated family members of the deceased who are exposed to the gory details of the horrific crimes their loved ones were victims of, and these family members are also unwillingly exposed to viewers across the world. It is not healthy, it is not kind, nor is it seemly.
One wonders whether this type of exposure across the world stage, of psychopaths and their crimes encourages other psychopaths to commit crimes, because of their twisted desire to become “famous,” or should I say, “infamous.”
To date no research I am aware of has explored this issue. Perhaps the time to determine whether such media coverage encourages more crime is now!
About the Author:
Dr. Jack Singer is a professional speaker, trainer and psychologist. He has been speaking for and training Fortune 1000 companies, associations, CEO’s and elite athletes for 34 years. Among the association conventions which Dr. Jack has keynoted are those which serve financial planners.
Dr. Jack is a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, FOX SPORTS and countless radio talk shows across the U.S. and Canada. He is the author of “The Teacher’s Ultimate Stress Mastery Guide,” and several series of hypnotic audio programs, some specifically for athletes and some for anyone wanting to raise their self-confidence and esteem. To learn more about Dr. Singer’s speaking and consulting services, please visit DrJackSinger.com and FunSpeaker.com or call him in the U.S. at (800) 497-9880.