Crime and deviance : Media on crime (1)

How do Right realists criticise the idea that media causes crime?

Argue people have agency and choos whether to imitate deviant role models

Challenges the idea that media is automatically influences behaviour

Why might the working class be more influenced by devient media images?

Right realists argue poor socialisation and underclass values make them more vunerable to deviant lifestyles

Links media influence to social class differences

What is a moral panic in relation to media and crime?

Wide spread public fear created by exagguratiing media reporting of group behaviour

Shows how media cab aplify devience and increase crime

What are the main stages of a moral panic?

Sensatinal reporting, moral entreprenurs react, group demonisesd , crack down, mor evisibilty and devience increases

Explains how media can unintentionally create more crime

What does it mean when the media create folk devils ?

Groups are labelled as threats to society and blamed for wider problmes

Labelling can push these groups into further deveince

How does the media contribute to the devience ampification spiral ?

Media exaggeration leads to harsher policing, which increases arrest , making the problem seem worse

What is one example of a moral panic caused by the media?

Cohens mods and rockers , the media exaggerated violence, leading to crackdows and more deviance

This demonstates how media labelling can create real increases in crime

Why do some argue moral panics are less relevent today ?

In late modernity people are used to shock and horror so they may not react strongly to media exaggeration

Suggests media infuence may be weaker than traditional theories claim

How do marxists criticise moral panic theory?

It ignores the structrual causes of crime such as capitalism and focuses toon much on media reactions

REminding you that media is only one part of the bigger picture

What is the hypodermic syringe model?

It claims audiences passively absorb media messages so violent media directly causes violent behaviour

Supportis the idea that media can be direct cause of crime

How does Banduras bobo doll study link media violence to real - life violence?

Children who warched adults behave violently copied the aggression , suggesting imitation and copy cat behaviour

Shows how violent media could teach children that violence is normal

Why is Banduras experiment critised as evidence for media causing crime?

It was a lab experiment with low ecological validity , so behaviour may ot reflect real life

Weakens the argument that media violence automatically leads to real violence

How is the James Bulger case used in debates about media violence?

The two child killers (ten years old) had watched violent films before commiting crime , leading to some to argue media influnced their actions

This is a real life example

Why is the James Bulger case not strong evidence to support that media causes violence ?

Watching a violent film doesnt vause violence, correlation doesnt prove causation

Reminds you that media influence is complex not automatic

What did McCabe an dMartin argue about limitations and media violence?

Children may imitate violent heros who are rewarded or go unpunished in media

Suggests that the media normalises violence as a problem solving method

What is the disinhibition effect according to McCabe and Martin?

Media violence convinces children that normal rules can be suspended and violence is acceptable in some situations

Shows how media can weaken moral restraints against violence

What does Newson argue about desensitisation?

Constant exposure to media violence makes young people accept violence as normal and reduces their moral sensitivity

Explains how media can gradually shape attitudes that make violence more likely

How does desensitisation weaken moral codes?

Repeted exposure makes violence seem ordinary reducing emotional reactions like guilt or empathy

Helping explain why some young people may commit vioelnt acts without hesitation

Why do many sociologist argue that media violence does not directly cause real life violence?

Most studies only show small effects and many people watch violent media without becoming violent

Challanges simplistic “media causes crime” explanations

How does the two step flow model challenge the idea ofpassive audiences?

People discuss media with opinion leaders and interpret it through their own values, not passively absorb it

Suggests audiences are active, reducing the likelihood of direct media influence

What is selective exposure in media consumption?

People chooose which media to watch based on their intrest and belifes

Means violent people may choose violent media NOT media makes people violent

What is selective interpretation?

Audiences interpret media content diffrently depending on their existing attitudes and experiences

Showing why th esame violent media does not affect everyone equally

What is the overall sociological conclusion about media violence causing crime?

Evidence for a direct causal link is weak, media may influence attitudes but rarely causes violence alone

Encouraging more nuanced understanding (differences in meaning) of media effects

Why do sociologists argue media is only one factor in violent behaviour ?

Crime is influenced by socialisation, poverty , family peers and environment

Prevents over-blaming the media for complex social problems

A moral panic is an exaggerated social reaction to a perceived threat, while a folk devil is the group that the media demonises and blames during that panic.

• Moral panic = the reaction (could be about non people e.g toilet paper in covid)

• Folk devil = the group being blamed