Anyone who regularly watches the NFL has probably witnessed a game delay due to a fan running out on the field. The interesting thing about this experience, however, is not the fan's behaviour -- it's that the millions of people watching at home on T.V. never get to actually see the person. What is interesting is the broadcaster's policy of not filming the antics of a reckless fan -- such as incidents of nudity or profanity.
This policy is basic behaviourism in action. People typically pull stunts like interrupting a live sports event in order to draw attention to themselves. Presumably, there is a thrill to having thousands and even millions of people watching you -- even if all remnants of self-respect have been tossed out the window in the process.
The NFL's policy aims to remove this reward, which may deter similar behaviour in the future, or at the very least, not give the attention-seeker what he or she craves. There is justice in this policy -- you shouldn't be rewarded for bad behaviour.
For top: SLIDESHOW: LUKA MAGNOTTA
The truly interesting thing about this policy is its absence everywhere else in Western society.
Indeed, the general rule of thumb seems to be that when it comes to getting attention, there is absolutely no such thing as bad publicity. In conjunction with social media, this has created a booming marketplace for those individuals so desperate for the spotlight they would do absolutely anything to be centre stage.
Which brings us to Luka Rocco Magnotta. The only suspect in the gruesome murder of a Montreal university student was recently apprehended in Germany, and will be extradited back to Canada to face trial.
It would seem on the surface that justice will prevail and the scoreboard should read:
Justice: 1
Luka Magnotta: 0
Unfortunately, there is good reason to believe this game has a more complicated ending where, depending on how you define goals and winning, the score may be a tie, or by some accounts, Magnotta may even be deemed the winner.
The psychological profile that has been painted of Magnotta in the news is that of a man possessed by a craving for the spotlight. His longstanding and varied actions on the internet read like the CV of an individual who aspires to be famous. He even once auditioned to be on a reality T.V. show.
I will not review the many details of Magnotta's life, which are available anywhere on the internet and continue to pour in by the hour. My primary goal is not to further analyze or publicize his personality and life.
Of the many sad elements in this case, one of the more depressing is perhaps that Magnotta's behaviour and even personality are not all that different from many of the people celebrated and adored in our society.
At a time when the list of people who are "famous for being famous" grows seemingly by the minute, it has been practically commonplace to watch people so obsessed with attention they would do anything -- flash genitalia, film and distribute sex, get married, get divorced, break the law, subvert any and all shred of personal values they hold -- to get a picture of themselves in a magazine or on T.V.
Granted, Magnotta seems to have traits that are more severely pathological and consistent with psychopathology (for example allegedly torturing animals). However, if you compare other key personality indicators -- lack of empathy for others, big ego, using sex to get attention -- one wonders whether the difference between Magnotta and some pop culture figures is just their positioning in the landscape of personality disorders.
We live in an interesting era. There is an almost perfect storm of factors that make committing a crime for fame an appealing option for those whose personality would permit such a possibility. First, the rewards are obvious and well-documented. There are scores of people who are well compensated to say and do things that would normally be seen as scandalous. This applies not only to celebrities and faux celebrities alike -- but also journalists, political analysts, athletes and even politicians.
If there is a marketplace for attention-seeking it is a very competitive one, which leads to another contributing factor: The rise of social media has allowed virtually everyone on the planet to take a shot at achieving their 15 minutes of fame. This has put the already famous in the unexpected position of having to out-manoeuvre the not-yet-famous for air time. The spotlight is only so big, so it often requires truly stunning (mis)judgment to "earn" front page position.
Finally, there is the role of the audience. People are curious and the motivations for wanting to pay attention to others' misbehaviour range from a genuine desire to learn to a need to feel superior by way of social comparison, to a basic fascination with all things macabre. That journalists (and bloggers) have a right to report and comment on practically everything that happens in society is essentially a given -- we live in a free and democratic society. Of course, we also live in a commercial society, and where there is an audience there are advertising dollars.
But with this freedom and liberty to read and write and post whatever you like comes a cost. Most people like positive attention. I am not concerned with the individual who starts a popular blog site. I am concerned with the ever-growing segment of society for whom popularity and notoriety are indistinguishable.
It used to be that in the poker-game of life, the goal was simply to win the pot. Now, there seem to be more people willing to lose everything just so others at the table will notice that they were sitting there the whole time.
Luka Magnotta was apprehended in an internet café while reading about himself on the internet. What must it have felt like to finally see himself all over the internet and on the cover of every major newspaper after spending a significant portion of his life grasping desperately at fame?
Millions of people around the world now know who he is.
LUKA MAGNOTTA PICTURES
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Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Photos from the family of Jun Lin, the victim of Luka Magnotta were given to media Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in Montreal. Preliminary hearing is underway for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Luka Rocco Magnotta is shown in an artist's sketch in a Montreal court on Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Magnotta has collapsed in court during his preliminary hearing.The notorious suspect in a killing and dismemberment case had been listening to evidence against him, whose contents are subject to a publication ban.
Daran Lin, father of murder victim Jun Lin, leaves the courthouse in Montreal on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Preliminary hearing is set to start for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Luka Rocco Magnotta is seen in an artist's sketch in a Montreal court on Monday, March 11, 2013. A preliminary hearing is set to start for Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.Magnotta's lawyers want the public and media barred from attending the hearing, which is to determine if there is enough evidence for a trial.
Daran Lin, father of murder victim Jun Lin, leaves court with his translator Daran Lin in Montreal on Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Preliminary hearing is set to start for Luka Rocco Magnotta, the man charged in connection with the infamous body-parts case that made international headlines.
Alleged killer Luka Rocco Magnotta is seen in court on a artist drawing Wednesday, January 9, 2013 in Montreal. Magnotta is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying and dismemberment of Chinese engineering student Jun Lin.
Luka Rocco Magnotta is taken by police from a Canadian military plane to a waiting van on Monday, June 18, 2012 in Mirabel, Quebec. Magnotta, the lone suspect in a brutal Montreal killing that made headlines around the world, is back home to face justice on Canadian soil. (Montreal Police)
Magnotta lands in Canada (Montreal Police)
Magnotta lands in Canada (Montreal Police)
Mug shot of Luka Rocco Magnotta, released by Montreal Police on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Magnotta told a judge Tuesday he will not fight his extradition from Germany to Canada, Berlin police say. Magnotta is wanted in Canada on several charges, including first-degree murder, in connection with the killing and dismemberment of Chinese national Jun Lin. (AP Photo/Montreal Police Service via The Canadian Press)
Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke speaks during a news conference after a human hand was delivered to a school and a human foot to another in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday June 5, 2012. Montreal police later confirmed the packages are connected to the dismembered body of a Chinese student found in Montreal last week and the international manhunt for his killer. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A man walks his dog past St. George's School where a human foot was delivered to the school earlier in the day in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday June 5, 2012. A human hand was also delivered to another Vancouver school Tuesday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A television cameraman films parents and students at False Creek Elementary School after a human hand was delivered to the school earlier in the day in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday June 5, 2012. A human foot was also delivered to another Vancouver school Tuesday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
A police car leaves the central police detention facility of Berlin supposedly carrying Luka Rocco Magnotta to a Berlin court Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Luka Magnotta, 29, a Canadian porn actor suspected of murdering and dismembering a Chinese was arrested on Monday at an Internet cafe. A cafe employee recognized Magnotta from a newspaper photo and flagged down a police car. (AP Photo/dapd/ Timur Emek)
The internet cafe where Luka Rocco Magnottahe was recognized in the district of Neukoelln in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
This image taken from CCTV obtained by Associated Press video shows Luka Rocco Magnotta entering the Internet cafe in the district of Neukoelln in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2012, where Kadir Anlayisli, who works in the cafe recognized him. "I looked at him and thought I knew him from somewhere, because I read newspapers every day," Anlayisli said. (AP Photo/AP Video)
This image taken from CCTV obtained by Associated Press video shows Kadir Anlayisli, a cafe worker waiting for police in the doorway of the Internet cafe in the district of Neukoelln in Berlin, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2012, where Luka Rocco Magnotta was arrested. (AP Photo/AP Video)
This image taken from CCTV obtained by Associated Press video shows police entering the Internet cafe shortly after. (AP Photo/AP Video)
This image taken from CCTV obtained by Associated Press video shows Luka Rocco Magnotta, 2nd left, being removed by police from the Internet cafe. (AP Photo/AP Video)
Kadir Anlayisli stands next to the computer where he recognized Luka Rocco Magnotta. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
The Interpol alert, which shows various photos and a discription of Luka Rocco Magnotta. (AP Photo/Interpol/dapd)
This surveillance image provided by Interpol shows Luka Rocco Magnotta at a security checkpoint. (AP Photo/Interpol)
In a Wednesday, May 30, 2012 photo, janitor Eric Schoer looks at a blood-stained fridge at an apartment rented by suspect Luka Rocco Magnotta, where police believe a man was murdered and dismembered, in Montreal. (The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
A police officer removes a package containg a human foot from the Conservative Party headquarters in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
The following is a series of photos and self-portraits posted by Magnota on various websites (Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(Facebook)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
(http://luka-magnotta.com)
Follow Roger Covin, Ph.D on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/@rogercovin
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-raj-persaud/the-psychology-of-corpse-dismemberment_b_1577919.html
Dr Helinä Häkkänen-Nyholm argues that it's the posting of body parts to others which makes this case unique. You can judge for yourself from her data how similar this kind of act renders someone who does this to others who pursue fame.
In our analysis we did not have the space to fully explore the fame angle which has been discussed here so cogently, and we put more weight on the body dismemberment aspect of the case, as revealing the core psychology of the alleged killer.
However, Dr Covin is developing a fascinating thesis on the internet age's unique ability to allow us to self regard, through activities such as googling ourselves, which no era before has ever experienced.
Raj Persaud FRCPsych Consultant Psychiatrist based in London, UK.
But the fact that I can see it a little more clearly now strangely doesn't help - because the worst part of this whole phenomenon is not the sad, pathetic 'stars' but the willingness of the audience to be there in the first place.
You might have a PHD in phsycology but to trivialize this montrous behaviour and put in on par with the Kim Kardashian's, etal of the world is in my opinion poor judgement and definitely poor taste.
Maybe time to do a reality check on yourself....sick comparison to say the least.
I think this is a great summary of something I have considered in the course of this case.
He's just annother wannabe that will be forgotten soon. If it were not for the conencted world he'd already be an archives loonatic hastily forgotten out of shame.
Well, there are some similarities though not as many as you are positing. But can you, if you think hard on this, find some crucial difference?
Keep trying.
The fortunate part is a very small percentage of these people go so far as Magnatta !
http://stevesbigpicture.com/