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Evolution and study of a copycat effect in intimate partner homicides: A lesson from Spanish femicides

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  • José L Torrecilla
  • Lara Quijano-Sánchez
  • Federico Liberatore
  • Juan J López-Ossorio
  • José L González-Álvarez

Abstract

Objectives: This paper focuses on the issue of intimate partner violence and, specifically, on the distribution of femicides over time and the existence of copycat effects. This is the subject of an ongoing debate often triggered by the social alarm following multiple intimate partner homicides (IPHs) occurring in a short span of time. The aim of this research is to study the evolution of IPHs and provide a far-reaching answer by rigorously analyzing and searching for patterns in data on femicides. Methods: The study analyzes an official dataset, provided by the system VioGén of the Secretaría de Estado de Seguridad (Spanish State Secretariat for Security), including all the femicides occurred in Spain in 2007-2017. A statistical methodology to identify temporal interdependencies in count time series is proposed and applied to the dataset. The same methodology can be applied to other contexts. Results: There has been a decreasing trend in the number of femicides per year. No interdependencies among the temporal distribution of femicides are observed. Therefore, according to data, the existence of copycat effect in femicides cannot be claimed. Conclusions: Around 2011 there was a clear change in the average number of femicides which has not picked up. Results allow for an informed answer to the debate on copycat effect in Spanish femicides. The planning of femicides prevention activities should not be a reaction to a perceived increase in their occurrence. As a copycat effect is not detected in the studied time period, there is no evidence supporting the need to censor media reports on femicides.

Suggested Citation

  • José L Torrecilla & Lara Quijano-Sánchez & Federico Liberatore & Juan J López-Ossorio & José L González-Álvarez, 2019. "Evolution and study of a copycat effect in intimate partner homicides: A lesson from Spanish femicides," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0217914
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217914
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frye, V. & Galea, S. & Tracy, M. & Bucciarelli, A. & Putnam, S. & Wilt, S., 2008. "The role of neighborhood environment and risk of intimate partner femicide in a large urban area," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1473-1479.
    2. Meindl, J.N. & Ivy, J.W., 2017. "Mass shootings: The role of the media in promoting generalized imitation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(3), pages 368-370.
    3. repec:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303611_2 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Karsten Schweikert & Manuel Huth & Mark Gius, 2021. "Detecting a copycat effect in school shootings using spatio‐temporal panel count models," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(4), pages 719-736, October.
    2. Eva Selene Hernández Gress & Martin Flegl & Aleksandra Krstikj & Christina Boyes, 2023. "Femicide in Mexico: Statistical evidence of an increasing trend," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(12), pages 1-20, December.

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