Media as a cause of crime Flashcards
What is materialism?
The media presents images of everyone with a perfect life.
This leads to the experience of material deprivation, which in turn leads to them committing crime.
Merton strain theory – Innovators – Have the same materials as others but gain these through illegitimate means.
What is desensitisation?
The media expose people to violent people to violent crimes regularly. Some argue that this exposure makes people less sensitive to this crime and more likely to commit them.
What are criticisms of desensitisation?
If people see horrific consequences of committing crime they are less likely to do it themselves
People still care when crimes are committed
What is imitation?
Sometimes viewers of media will attempt to imitate crimes they see. These are referred to as ‘copycat’ crimes.
What is arousal?
Violent and sexual imagery in the media may ‘stimulate’ potential criminals and may become a factor in them turning to crime.
What is Knowledge?
People can learn criminal techniques through the media, whether it’s using media to communicate and search, or simply watching tv shows and films and learning directly from them.
What is a criticism of knowledge?
Thousands of people watch programmes or play video games yet don’t commit criminal violence.
What do cultural criminologists argue?
Media saturated
Crime is a commodity
We then internalise that media and choose to turn it to crime
What did Gerbner at al find ?
Heavy TV users have higher levels of fear of crime
What did Schlesinger and Tumber find?
Tabloid users and heavy TV users fear being victims of crime (mugging and physical attacks)
What do Greer and Reiner argue?
We must look at the meanings that people give to what they see and what they read.
