the rational, pre-frontal cortex area of the brain, instant gratification causes a more urgent, dependent response within deeper primitive parts of the brain that are triggered by environmental cues. In short – the instant gratification that we receive from likes and comments on live broadcasts tap into our most primitive, pleasure-seeking needs.
With this understanding, it becomes more clear as to why certain types of people would engage in extreme (or even deadly) behaviors online. It has become desirous because it:
- Garners immediate attention
- Emboldens ideology
- Creates a sense of pseudo-confidence
- Provides an audience that otherwise would not be present
Homicides and suicides that occur online also have a long-lasting effect on those that view them. Similar to hearing daily news stories related to violent crime, viewing death at the click of a button will eventually desensitize us on a subconscious level. It will become a form of entertainment, with viewers encouraging the participants to follow-thru with deadly acts.
Slightly more than a year ago to the day, a 37-year-old Cleveland man reportedly posted a video on Facebook showing him allegedly shooting an elderly man as he walked down the street. After posting the video, it was reportedly shared more than 1.6 million times within hours across Twitter, IG, and FB. The shooter noted that his reasoning for wanting to kill was due to issues with his girlfriend. He wanted to get her attention.
Several days later, Steve Stephens lay dead in his car in Erie, PA from a self-inflicted gunshot. The entire nation held their collective breath as the drama unfolded, and Stephens got exactly what he wanted – attention on a grand scale.
Vaughn N. Gay, LPC, MAC, CAMS-II is a licensed professional counselor, master addiction counselor, and anger management specialist and has served as a practitioner in the field of mental health for almost 10 years.