The media as a cause of crime

Question 1

Which groups are thought to be susceptible to the influence of the media?

Answer 1

The young, the lower classes and the uneducated

Question 2

How might the media cause crime and deviance?

Answer 2

Imitation - providing deviant role models resulting in copycat behaviour
Arousal - through viewing violent or sexual imagery
De-sensitisation
Transmitting knowledge of criminal techniques
Glamorising offending
Portrays police as incompetent

Question 3

Example of a crime carried out because of media

Answer 3

James Bulger case as a result of copy-cat and desensitisation

Question 4

Copycat behaviour from media

Answer 4

Media will sometimes provide deviant role models for individuals to idealise and sets the scene up for them to copy the behaviour seen

Question 5

Bandura’s bobo doll example of copycat crime

Answer 5

Children shown aggressive, non aggressive and no behaviour towards a bobo doll
Children who were shown violence attacked the doll and those who weren’t shown any didn’t attack it

Question 6

Desensitisation - Newson(woman)

Answer 6

Continued exposure to violent media through films, series ect for several years desensitises children in particular violence
Research led to increased censorship in the industry e.g age certificates in films

Question 7

Evaluation of media causing crime

Answer 7

Livingstone - most studies found that exposure to media violence has at most a small and limited negative effect on audiences

Question 8

Glamourising offending

Answer 8

Media and social media shows crime as cool and exciting, glamourising offences and offenders. True of drugs, guns, knives, gangs ect

Question 9

Stimulating desire for affordable good

Answer 9

Media creates the need to buy into unaffordable goods through social media, adverts, tv, music videos