Werther's syndrome, or suicide after the death of an idol

"Werther effect" - the mass wave of copycat suicides, often associated with a celebrity death or with a particular work of art, the protagonist of which is superimposed on a hand or tragically dies. The term was introduced by the American sociologist David Phillips, who investigated the suicide outbreak of the XVIII century, the novel provoked Goethe's "The Sorrows of Young Werther". Phillips found that suicide, media coverage, as a rule, entail action imitative nature of the population. We have gathered the most known cases of "Werther Effect" of the last century.

Gloomy Sunday, or "Hungarian suicide hymn"

The song, written by the Hungarian composer rezső seress in 1933.

According to legend, Rezho was a pianist in a small restaurant in Budapest. He composed the music and lyrics, chants doom of this world. A little later lyrics were rewritten journalist Laszlo Javor. The updated version romanticize suicide that can bring the lyrical to the deceased beloved.

The history of this single city on the verge of fiction and reality: they say, suicide is really the wave swept across Europe after the sad song has been presented to the public. According to other reports, the hit was written 2 years before the events.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe (July 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962) - the bright blonde of the last century, the mistress of President Kennedy and Hollywood icon.

On her mysterious death of gossip and to this day. Miss Monroe was found dead in his home August 5, 1962. Housekeeper, sensing that something was wrong in the night, I was not able to reach the stars, because the bedroom door was locked. Psychiatrist diva, Ralph Greenson, who arrived immediately to the address and found the dead body of Marilyn. Autopsy results showed pharmacological intoxication, directly related to the adoption of a lethal dose of barbiturates. Official cause of death was considered suicide, but the public has advanced and other theories, such as improper distribution of the dosing regimen and even killing. Marilyn passed away at the age of 36 years, and her death has provoked a wave of suicides across America.

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) - the legendary singer and musician, lead singer of the cult rock band Nirvana.

The body of 27-year-old Kurt was found electrician who had arrived in the musician's home to install a security system. Cobain's death attributed to heroin overdose. Ostensibly it was under the influence of narcotic Kurt committed suicide with a shot from a gun. musician's death led to a whole series of suicides among young people under 30 years old: the waves of this magnitude not seen since the death of Marilyn Monroe. Kurt Cobain joined the list of participants of the "Club-27", which includes celebrities, tragically died in 27 years.

Viktor Tsoi

Viktor Tsoi (June 21, 1962 - August 15, 1990) - Soviet rock musician, songwriter.

Victor Tsoi was killed in a car accident near Tukums, Latvia. According to the official version, "Moskvich" Choi flew into the opposite lane and crashed into the bus because of the fact that the musician has fallen asleep at the wheel and lost the opportunity to drive a car.

Rumors about the state of the actor at the time of death is still controversial: an autopsy revealed that Victor was completely sober, but some sources claim otherwise. Either way, the death of the Soviet idol listeners experienced an extremely painful: some have committed suicide, the living have preserved his memory immortal phrase "Choi alive" carved on the facade of every other five-story building.

Heath Ledger

Heath Ledger (April 4, 1979 - January 11, 2008) - American actor.

At the time of the death of a star, "Dark Knight" was 28 years old. His body was found in an apartment in Manhattan. The autopsy revealed that the deceased blood was lethal dose taken together analgesics and hypnotics.

According to rumors, hit painfully parting with his beloved: he fell into a depression, which later took an acute form. However, there is still no accurate confirmation of the version that it was a deliberate suicide. Ledger's friends and relatives claimed that the actor was preparing for new projects, but drowned chronic fatigue symptoms tablets. Most likely, the death was due to a fatal accident.

Fans of the actor, there was talk of replenishment "Club-27", although the idol age exceeded this figure. After the tragic death of Heath Ledger were also recorded outbreak of deaths among young people due to overdose.

Chester Bennington

Chester Bennington (March 20, 1976 - July 20, 2017) - a rock musician and vocalist of Linkin Park groups and Dead by Sunrise.

Chester was found hanged at his home. According to the examination, traces of drugs were found in the blood of the musician. It is noteworthy that Bennington killed himself on the birthday of a close friend Chris Cornell, who took his own life two months earlier. Chris also hanged.

After the death of the idol of millions around the world, a wave of suicides among the most devoted listeners. People were desperate sudden death of the musician.

Lil Peep

Lil Peep (November 1, 1996 - November 15, 2017) - American rapper by the name of Gustav Elijah Ar, hip-hop music in the genre of emo-rap.

Peep was in the hospital because of an overdose of Xanax. In the medical facility and he died on November 15, 2017. Many musicians have publicly honored the memory of the deceased, while others called on the youth to refuse receiving the drug.

Gustav was mentioned in the 60th Award "Grammy" in the memorial section. His death came as a surprise and a great tragedy for the loyal fans, and for the generation as a whole: the rapper has lived only 21 years old.

musician's death provoked a stormy debate among the social networking fans and users, splitting the public into two camps: one opposed the use of drugs, in order to protect young people from such errors with fatal consequences, while others have decided to emulate idol and brought their own lives the same way.