It is probably well known that the broadcast of certain types of information in the media facilitates the appearance of a call effect, increasing the probability of the broadcast of a behavior. This is visible, for example, in situations such as violence, some crimes or suicide.
However, the opposite phenomenon also occurs: the emission of prosocial, positive or hopeful behavior models and life perspectives (as long as they are perceived as realistic and cause reflection) usually also generate a certain level of imitation that can have a preventive effect on certain behaviors.
The latter is what happens in the case of the so-called Papageno effect which we are going to talk about throughout this article.
The Papageno effect is the phenomenon by which exposure to behavioral models and examples of people who initially intended to take their own lives but who have finally renounced that idea and overcome the crises, anguish or difficulties that caused them generates in the viewer a suicide preventive effect
This also occurs when, although a suicidal intention has not been expressed, it is perceived that a person who has suffered great life difficulties or traumatic events similar to one’s own has managed to move forward and face the situation successfully and positively.
It is about finding a reference, a model that teaches that despite difficulties, alternatives can always be found, something much more profound and understandable when it is perceived that the person who says it has really gone through a situation similar to one’s own and has managed to overcome it, sometimes even being able to help the viewer to generate their own improvement strategies or to try to replicate the one shown in the media.
Although this phenomenon appears when observing examples of similar situations, the effect can be enhanced by the fact that the person narrating it is credible and inspires confidence, being useful the exposition of cases of people who are references and with whom the subject feels some type of identification In this sense, the exhibition of recognized and loved characters, idols and icons for the person in question can be useful.
Now, it must be taken into account that it is also possible that if the person telling their story is a celebrity, it is also possible that the thought appears that there are differences between said person and the viewer (for example, economic capacity), and in this case the It makes sense to be more productive to issue cases with which the subject can have greater identification.
The name of this effect comes from one of the main characters of The magic Flute of Mozart, a humble man who, precisely during the play, will try to take his own life, but who three spirits or elves They will end up persuading you to abandon your attempt showing you other alternatives and possibilities.
The important role of the media
The fact that the media has great power is something that is widely known, and this is something that throughout history has often been used both to help society (being a window open to the world around us and helping to propagate values (a flexible vision of reality and prosocial) to obtain some type of benefit or even to manipulate the population.
And it is not only the fact of displaying information, but also how it is done or even the type of information that is broadcast, which can influence our way of thinking both directly and indirectly
In the case of the Papageno effect, it is essential to keep in mind that in order to awaken it, it will not be enough to simply show the fact that a person has not committed suicide, but what truly protects and prevents suicide is the fact of showing how The subject has been able to overcome his difficulties. It is essential to focus on the existence of alternatives.
The reverse case: the Werther effect
While the media has a powerful influence in preventing suicide, great caution must be taken with the type of cases that are issued and how they are issued.
And as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, it has also been observed that the issuance of cases of completed suicide (especially in the case of people highly loved by society), can generate a facilitation of suicide in some people. This is the Werther effect.
Care must always be taken not to present suicide as something positive or as a means or to use sensationalism, and in the case of broadcasting cases of completed suicides, limit the details (avoid what is gruesome, do not show images…), not assign blame and not use a moralistic stance. .
