More of half a million people missing last year were reported, however none of them (nor the thousands of missing people this year) have generated the interest that caused the effect Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old who was reported missing by her mother on September 11, after she stopped communicating while taking a trip with her boyfriend through various national parks in the United States.
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To explain this phenomenon, Dr. Pamela Rutledge, a psychologist who studies human behavior, told Insider that Petito’s case may have generated a collective fear response, generating a “fight or flight response.” This reaction, she says , includes a “release of hormones,” that is, an adrenal response to stress, and that this is because people are unconsciously programmed to pay attention to things that could harm them, regardless of whether the threat is directed against them or not.
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Another possible reason for generating the so-called Gabby Petito effect is in the satisfaction that people take from participating in an investigation. As indicated to DailyBeast S. Shyam Sundar, Professor and Co-Director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at the University of Penn State, people feel a kind of gratification that vigilance, while others experience u There is a need to closely monitor the story for your own well-being or safety.
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One factor that perhaps further contributes to the true crime craze is “virtual voyeurism” where social platforms become one big, except more tragically authentic, reality show, and one in which users can engage themselves, in entertainment place created for mass consumption. ” It’s voyeurism, feeling that they themselves are part of a developing story “Sundar added “because they are contributing to the twists and turns of the plot by discussing them on social media.”
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I had made a video against violence
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To all these, the recent news that Gabby Petito and her siblings were part of a video that tried to raise awareness against violence, has added more impact to his disappearance and death.
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Deb Henson, the songwriter and friend of Gabby, said: “This song is not just about violence against children. It is also about domestic violence and violence in general. It’s really terrible what happened to Gabby. “
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Too told the NY Post that, listening to the lyrics now, is “creepy” to him. And he added: “It is ironic and tragic that she is in this video and that this has happened to her.”
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Now there is a foundation under his name
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As tragic as his death may have been, his parents are focused on making the brief presence of his life in this world leave a good impact on people. And that’s why, during their funeral preparations, they asked people to send donations to the Gabby Petito Foundation instead of flowers.
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On his Twitter account, Joseph Petito, Gabby’s father said: “We are creating this foundation to provide resources and guidance on how to bring your children back home. We want to help people in situations similar to Gabby’s. He also explained: “No one should have to search for their child on their own.”
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