What is scully effect in sociology?

This refers to a social phenomenon wherein movie characters can surprisingly inspire behavioural changes in people in the real world. It is named after Dana Scully, a woman character in the American television series The X-Files which was aired mostly in the 1990s. Studies have found that the character, portrayed as a medical doctor and a special agent successfully working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, inspired many women who watched the series to take up education and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and with various law enforcement agencies.

Source: The Hindu, 27/11/2018