New-York tribune., 1907-08-16
THE CRLHIN4L W4VE." "
Responsibility of the Press for Er-
isting Conditions.
From The New York Medical Journal


Certain Journalists are pleased to describe
in lurid colors and to lay considerable stress
upon the wave of crime" which is now said
TO be passing over the country, with special
centre in and about New York. Murder. theft.
arson. exhibitionism. rape. outrage and assault
are the special gusts which said to proclaim
its presence and offer a certain pretext for view
Ing Ii in the light OF mental contaglon acting on
the masses Mental Contagion. however. Is no
summer idyi sung by the listless reporter IN
the dog days; It is a living, moving force OF
hideous power. and If any remarks are pertinent
to the subject OF criminal wave" from the
medical standpoint at least. they should connect
themselves largely with the responsibility or
some of the newspapers in bringing about by
their suggestive stories the very evils of mental
ContagiOn that they should most sincerely oe-
plore and seek TO prevent
The mental disturbances of COlleCtivism are
numerous. 1t should be remembered that a
crowd Ia only one form OF collective life. and
crowd may be grouped in masses and exhibit
its peculiar features of mental contaglon or IL
NAV be scattered In time and in place ana YET
be potentially crowa. he!a togetneI AN. anu
syayed by the press by lectures and Dy BOOKS:
Thus community of opinion Is estaoIiSheu
which prompts many persons 10 ike action. II
is by the factor OF suggestion III mental CON
tagj0n that MANY of the minor crimes are
brought about and the many hysterical stories
told by young girls are further evidences OF the
aoma suRgestiVe factor. The very same ele-
,oent of mental suggestion on the part OF the
press is in large part responsible Tor the sudden
faring UP OF the activities OF the many ln deIna-
fous who are always with us: and even worse
A. ts recognized by investigators OF crime the
u,orIa ovar that the semi-inSane and many or
+ba really insane easily fall victims to the intiu-
ence Of mental contagion- They are particularly
apt to commit sexual crimes under the lnilu-
ence of the suggestions th1t lhey ma apou'
them. -, s g.,
Even the healthy individual, when merged III
+J,a crowd his Self-contrOl, and II is a
we'll known fact that the crowd is often semi
insane most students holding that the actions
of crowd transcend the heights and the depths
NJ its individuals. The same crowd VIII coura-
reousIy put out fire and herolcaIly defend
their country burn a factory and brutaliy
lynch n falsely accused victim. AS lie Bon has
we'll said the crowd is the people. or rather a
fraction Of the people, in deliriuIn, the delirium
of enthusiasm or the delirtum of fury lt Will
carry In triumph the man il has just insulted.
or will in O. moment cut the throat of n man
IL has iust been praisng In his Julius Cesar
Shakespeare painted the partial insanity OF the
crowd with his mastery touch.
That which rules the psychology of commu-
mites is that each individual who forms n part
of if resigns more less voluntarily the peculiar
control of his higher centres. His conscious
ness narrovs as his emotional interest deepens.
and he becomes for the time being autOma-
ton ,Inder the sway of the ideas about him. and
he ia guided by his neighbors or under the in
fuence of a leader. The responsibility of gre
ga rious acts those acts committed by q mob.
under a leader should be placed for the most
part on the leader. The individual who has
lost himself under the voice OF the mob leader
is not a truly responsible being; the leader
is the actual criminal, If criminal acts done
bv individuals in the mob 1t becomes duty,
then for the press, which in this day and gem
Grafton is one of the most important of leaders.
To look carefully TO its pages in the light of Its
responsibility potent means OF inducing
mental contagion. Publicity has it's strength
and its weakness for every community, ana the
factor most to be avoided is morbid mental con-
ta.1fon.