{"id":38093,"date":"2021-12-14T15:48:58","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T15:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shefnews.co.uk\/?p=38093"},"modified":"2021-12-14T15:48:58","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T15:48:58","slug":"psychopaths-and-murderers-the-new-inspiration-for-young-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/12\/14\/psychopaths-and-murderers-the-new-inspiration-for-young-men\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychopaths and murderers \u2013 The new inspiration for young men."},"content":{"rendered":"

Young men are aspiring to be just like their favourite fictional characters, from the Joker to Patrick Bateman or Dylan Durden. This all comes about from the new term \u2018sigma\u2019 and the male desire to be greater than most \u2013 despite developing bigoted and terrifying traits.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WARNING: This material contains explicit content that may trigger or upset readers. Viewer\u2019s discretion is advised. <\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Patrick Bateman and Joker – when one mentions these characters you immediately think of their traits, right? An egomaniac, a psychopath or a freak of nature. You may find the characters interesting or even dress up as them for Halloween, but I bet you\u2019ve never said; \u201cI wanna be just like them!\u201d<\/p>\n

What if I told you that people have done exactly that? More recently, a 24-year-old Japanese man dressed as the Joker attacked 17 passengers with a knife on a Tokyo train line on October 31st, 2021.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t an uncommon trend – with acts of terrorism involving Gotham\u2019s infamous clown starting around 2012, with the Aurora, Colorado, shooting. Seventy were injured and twelve were killed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s become terrifying that there’s now a community that idolises characters like this in pursuit of obtaining the \u2018sigma mindset\u2019 and it\u2019s only growing in popularity – especially in young men across the world.<\/p>\n

The term comes from incel ideology – detailing that social status is determined in a similar fashion to that of a wolf pack. In this case, the \u2018alpha\u2019 would remain at the top yet the \u2018sigma\u2019 achieves a similar status whilst remaining introverted.<\/p>\n

An \u2018incel\u2019 is a member of an online subculture which defines themselves as unable to gain romantic or sexual partners despite desiring one. Obtaining the status of \u2018sigma\u2019 then allows them to.<\/p>\n

\u201cI master my own fate – I don’t need to be an alpha to attract women or even be successful in my work. I\u2019m the whole package and Bateman is the perfect inspiration.\u201d says John*, 21, student and Patrick Bateman idoliser.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery guy wants to be an alpha – I mean come on! Who doesn\u2019t want to stand outside this shitty hierarchy and embrace what these characters have?\u201d<\/p>\n

John had watched American Pyscho (2000 Horror\/Mystery directed by Mary Harron) in early June 2017. Since then, he had taken up several routines seen within the movie. This includes Patrick Bateman\u2019s strict washing routine, hairstyling and even workout plan.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Image taken as promotional material for the 2000 Horror\/Mystery American Pyscho. The poster features the protagonist, Patrick Bateman.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cI\u2019ve never felt so fucking alive. Women want me and I’ve seen ridiculous improvements in both my health and assignments\u201d. Less than 10 minutes later, John would go on to add to the \u2018Sigma\u2019 label.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s the alpha but better – I\u2019m at the top without having to be boisterous or needy. I get what I want and when I want.\u201d John concluded before showing me some posts that keep him motivated.<\/p>\n

One post includes a clip from American Pyscho – featuring Bateman having sex with two women and flexing his muscles, pinned below are the words \u201cReject normality and embrace difference. They\u2019ll follow like cattle.\u201d.<\/p>\n

Another features a clip of Joaquin Phoenix\u2019s Joker laughing before cutting to a video of a young man (visibly seeming around his 20s) bench pressing and then flexing – a comment reads \u201cAll you need is a little push.\u201d.<\/p>\n

Dr Danielle McDermott, Senior Professional Practice Fellow at Leeds Trinity University, has worked with young male juveniles who have committed serious violent sexual offences.<\/p>\n

McDermott concluded in her investigations and time with young offenders that their crimes had been committed with desire to gain social influence.<\/p>\n

A factor that these aspiring \u2018sigmas\u2019 crave and therefore look for inspiration in these fictional characters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked with one young person who was obsessed with the notorious prisoner, Charles Bronson. I think it’s really important for young people to have positive role models.\u201d McDermott detailed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe media in general has a role to play in influencing criminal behaviour at a young age. These characters are no exceptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Tiktok, the term #sigma has garnered 349.8 million views with hundreds and thousands of likes and comments. The top-rated video reached 4.3 million views displaying a man hitting a woman back in retaliation. A surprising note was that the comment section was disabled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

A screenshot taken from one of the countless Tiktoks featuring Patrick Bateman and \u2018sigma\u2019 terminology. For context \u2013 Bateman pulls such a face and pose as he begins contemplating whether he should murder the man opposite him.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of the top 50 #sigma videos; 22 of them included clips from American Pyscho, six from the Joker and three from Wolf of Wallstreet.<\/p>\n

Another trend featured these characters either degrading women or objectifying them. In other instances, videos featured similar content however blamed women for making them this way. This accusation was incredibly prominent in content relating to the aftereffect of a breakup.<\/p>\n

Dr Maria Tomlinson, an academic who specialises in topics such as toxic masculinity, menstrual stigma and transgender identity also fears this trend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel they\u2019re packaging up in an unhealthy way. It’s important for men to take time after a serious relationship. I feel these men are feeling all pumped by this change but not really\u00a0processing what’s happening.\u201d Tomlinson said.<\/p>\n

Tomlinson believes toxic masculinity is a huge problem within modern society. That men are bottling up emotions and engaging in identities that are both toxic and unhealthy. That perhaps the young men involved with the \u2018sigma\u2019 mindset are facing a similar issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis kind of self-absorbed mentality is really worrying in how it’s going to translate into how women are treated.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, one video on Tiktok depicted a montage of Joker clips which were conjoined with the phrases \u201cI will fight for you but not for you.\u201d or \u201cYou made me realise that women are just another obstacle for society to throw at me\u201d.<\/p>\n

Young men are identifying with the \u2018sigma\u2019 mindset to improve themselves both mentally and physically, yet sexism is rooted at its core. This mindset is especially prominent within gym and self-improvement videos.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Another screenshot taken from sigma related content \u2013 this one featuring the infamous \u201cYou get what you fucking deserve!\u201d clip from Todd Philip\u2019s 2020 Joker.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt comes from a place of insecurity and they\u2019ve adopted this mindset to disassociate from their previous identity. Perhaps trying to block out their emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis seems like a mindset where they\u2019ve completely lost empathy with other people. They\u2019re at risk of harming people a lot more as they don\u2019t really care about their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n

#motivation has 84.4 billion views with #success following behind with 525.9 million views. Embedded in these hashtags are videos promoting this mindset and once pursued – taking you back to these fictional characters.<\/p>\n

John would later add; \u201cWomen make us who we are. They treat us like shit and expect us to stay silent and take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

John has admitted that he would not act upon his impulses yet glorified rape, assault and objectification towards women.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re fucking pigs ripe for slaughter. I don\u2019t care \u2013 no man should.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alongside sexist content – varying accounts have used the fictional characters as a symbol for racist or violent crimes. For example, infamous media influencer Paul Nicholas Miller, 33, or known online as GypsyCrusader was jailed for illegal possession of firearms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Influencer Paul Nicholas Miller, or commonly known as \u2018GypsyCrusader\u2019 to his online audiences\u2019 dresses as the Joker and takes to his online platform to target and bully minorities.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miller would hold online streams dressed as the Joker – in videos he would encourage his viewers to follow his political campaign to advocate for another civil war. Alongside racist rants – he would take to the popular live service \u2018Omegal\u2019 in which strangers would be placed in a chatroom together with their cameras on.<\/p>\n

In one instance, Miller teased a young black boy after asking whether his eyes and teeth would be visible if he were to turn off the bedroom lights.<\/p>\n

Miller would continue to reference various points of the Joker movie as well as brandishing the costume whilst on stream – providing a sense of chaos that even the fictional character would be afraid of.<\/p>\n

Comments and viewers would publish fan montages of his \u2018funniest clips\u2019 or \u2018greatest moments\u2019 using similar jargon or hashtags that implied his activity was \u2018Sigma\u2019 like and something to idolise.<\/p>\n

Tuan Tran, 20, a student movie critic and blogger who organises online forums and chats\u00a0has dedicated his life to his hobby of watching movies. Additionally, he has studied some of these fictional characters to better articulate his opinion.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s ironic really, I mean, the fact that people idolise these characters shows they never understood the point of the movie.\u201d Tran stated.<\/p>\n

Tran noted that some characters are intended to be idolised in mainstream Hollywood – for example, some of the highest grossing movies come from Disney.<\/p>\n

As of now, social media platforms have attempted to silence content relating back to the \u2018sigma\u2019 mindset – through disabling comment sections, removing videos or banning accounts.<\/p>\n

The question is, what will come of the men who have jumped too far down this rabbit hole and for those ready to sink deeper?<\/p>\n