NCJ Number
53242
Journal
Kriminalistik Volume: 31 Issue: 8 Dated: (1977) Pages: 339-346
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE QUESTION OF WHETHER MASS MEDIA SUCH AS TELEVISION CONTRIBUTES TO CRIME, ESPECIALLY AMONG JUVENILES, IS EXPLORED ON THE BASIS OF EMPIRICAL STUDIES AND OF MEDIA PROTECTION LAWS.
Abstract
DESPITE LAWS WHICH LIMIT BASIC FREEDOMS OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION IN CASES WHEN SUCH FREEDOMS ENDANGER THE PUBLIC, AS WITH THE PORTRAYAL OF VIOLENCE, THE TREMENDOUS POPULARITY OF TELEVISION, RADIO, MOVIES, PRINTED MATERIAL, AND COMIC STRIPS HAVE PLACED UNDUE EMPHASIS ON VIOLENCE AND SEX. AMERICAN RESEARCH, FOR THE MOST PART DEVOTED TO TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS, INDICATES THAT MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF VIOLENCE IS ONLY ONE INFLUENTIAL FACTOR, ALONG WITH INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY STRUCTURE AND ENVIRONMENT; GERMAN CRIME STATISTICS OFFER NO PROOF THAT AN INCREASE SINCE 1972 OF CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENCE ARE CONNECTED WITH THE MEDIA. A STUDY COMPARING DELINQUENT AND NONDELINQUENT YOUTHS OF THE SAME CLASS SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH TELEVISION MURDER MYSTERIES CANNOT BE CONSIDERED THE CAUSE OF CRIMINALITY, PSYCHOPATHIC CRIMINALS TEND TO IDENTIFY WITH TELEVISION OFFENDERS AND TO NOTICE THE METHODS EMPLOYED IN TELEVISION CRIME. THE FACTORS WHICH DRAW INDIVIDUALS TO VIOLENT PROGRAMS ARE NOT CLEAR, BUT A UNESCO STUDY CONCEDES THAT TELEVISION MIGHT INITIATE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IN YOUNG, POORLY ADJUSTED CHILDREN WHOSE ENVIRONMENTAL OR SOCIAL CLASS DOES NOT LIMIT THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TELEVISION OR PROMOTE A CRITICAL ATTITUDE TOWARD WHAT IS SHOWN. AS AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR CAN BE COGNITIVELY LEARNED, ALTHOUGH PROBABLY ONLY PUT INTO ACTION UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IT SEEMS ADVISABLE TO DISCOURAGE THE REPRESENTATION OF VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION, PROGRAM VIOLENT FICTIONAL SHOWS FOR LATE EVENING HOURS, INFORM PROGRAM PLANNERS ABOUT WHAT STIMULATES AGGRESSION, AND ENCOURAGE COMMENTARY WHEN VIOLENT SCENES ARE AIRED ON NEWS PROGRAMS. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)