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media representation of crime

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One of the most researched issues in the social sciences is whether media representations of violence have damaging effects upon audiences. Three main sociological approaches to media and crime have emerged but no one approach has been conclusive (Carribaine et al, 2009, pg. 408). The first approach is called the ‘ill – effect’ or sometimes referred to as the hypodermic syringe model. This approach main focuses on young and working class people and the negative media effects of crime, deviance or violence. Reiner et al (1997) states that despite numerous studies on the harmful effects on media, there is no evidence to support or disprove casual claims of negative effects. He argues that most of the studies are methodologically defective and unscientific. Reiner states that these types of studies are based on simple and obsolete understandings of science. This is because film or internet in an approximation of laboratory conditions is an example where subjects typically undergo various forms of exposure to media stimulus (Reiner, 2002, pg. 396) It is often criticized by criminologist that ill-effect is mostly concentrated on young, working class people, because it shows that they are particularly at risk of committing crime or deviant acts. Some sociological and psychological studies suggest that when young people watch violent programs, play violent games or see harmful images it can led them to imitative behavior. Schubart (1995, pg. 222) cited that in trying to explain James Bulger murder by two young boys, police speculated that these offenders had copied scenes from Child’s Play 3 (1991), a film rented by the father of one of the boys a month before the murder. The judge said that this may have been a part of an explanation... ... middle of paper ... ...e in the media. Works Cited Carrabien, E., et al. 2009. Criminology: A Sociological Introduction. 2nd ed. Oxon: Routledge. Cohen, S. 1980. Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers. Oxford: Martin Robertson Jewkes Y 2004. Media and crime. Thousand Oaks, London: Sage Kidd-Hewitt, D. and Osborne, R. 1995. Crime and the Media: The Post-modern Spectacle. London: Pluto Press Pearson, G. 1983. Hooligan, a History of Respectable Fears. London: Macmillan Reiner, R., et al. 1997. The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press Ltd Reiner, R., et al. 2002. The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. 3rd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press Ltd. Schubart, R. 1995. From Desire to Deconstruction: Horror Films and Audience Reactions. London: Pluto Press Walton, P. and Young, J. 1997. The New Criminology Revisited. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
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