...Impact of Media on Fear of Crime among University Students: A Cross-National Comparison Article Summary This article comparatively examines the impact of media on fear of crime among university students in United States and Canada. Survey Data based on samples of university students has been used to study the relationship between media and fear of crime. The fear of crime refers to the fear of being a victim of crime as opposed to the actual probability of being a victim of crime (Hale C., 1996).Behaviors induced by fear include avoidance , movement restrictions and constraints on socialization. Fear of crime has three dimensions: * Cognitive (Focuses on citizens ’estimation of their likelihood of victimization; * Behavioral (which focuses on how people respond to fear of perceived risk of victimization) * Emotional (which focuses on individuals’ feelings about crime) A different approach towards understanding fear of crime includes vulnerability (i.e. Ability of the individual to escape or defend himself/herself from an attacker). However, several researchers argue that fear of crime is a distinctly affective – thus emotional – and physiologic response to perceived danger (Ferraro 1995; Warr 2000). Studies suggest that fear levels have not changed among citizens of both the countries despite decreases in crime rates. It is assumed that increased levels of fear are the result of individuals’ perception about his/her vulnerability to crime which can be attributed...
Words: 2134 - Pages: 9
...Fear of Crime & its effects in a Community Introduction The fear of crime creates negative psychological effects in a community. Consequently, stakeholders in the crime prevention sector need to equip themselves with knowledge surrounding this topic. They need to know factors linked to the fear of crime and the magnitude or relative importance of each. But this will only examine two factors; gender and prior victimization is really important in crime prevention strategies. Rational for the research is to answer the question does fear of crime create negative psychological effects in a community. The research question will require validation of two major factors then it will eventually necessity linking those factors together. At this point, there will be a need to move from theory to operationalization of the concept. It’s been established that there is a link between gender and fear of crime but the link is not clearly understood. Additionally, it has been assumed that prior victimization is related to fear of crime but the extent of this relationship needs to be established, Gender, fear of crime and prior victimization .(Babbie,2005) It should be noted that various methods of asking one question are possible and each approach would result in totally different responses thus different analyses and results. This research questions may be asked in such way that they give open ended responses. For instance, the respondents may be asked what their fear of crime is...
Words: 2563 - Pages: 11
...Assessment Item 2: Critical Analysis Title Romer D, Jamieson K & Aday S 2003, Television News and the Cultivation of Fear of Crime, Journal of Communication Vol 53 no 1, pp 88-104. Topic The theme of this intriguing and thoroughly researched report examines the influence of media consumption on fear of crime, punitive attitudes and perceived police effectiveness. It widely observes the effect that wide reporting and viewing of violent crime has on public knowledge and questions whether the polling data is a reflection of violent crime in America or the television media accounts of it. Context Context refers to the set of surrounding circumstances for any text, piece of research, publication, event etc. Almost every piece of research will have multiple contexts (Study Guide Glossary COM15, 2013, p 94). This journal article portrays the growing insecurities and encroachment that mass media has on our everyday lives, especially its account of violent crime, and how such mediums can impact on the viewer’s account of such events. This journal article has been used and published in a variety of professional and scholarly journals dealing in a range of fields including media and communication, legal and justice studies and behavioural psychology. Structure The paper is in the format of a formal research paper. It is a format that is more objective and non-personal; it’s the methodical process that involves the collection and analysis of information. The paper endeavours to...
Words: 1719 - Pages: 7
...seem to be more worried by crime, the research evidence suggests crime rates are not increasing. How can we explain this apparent contradiction? In a democratic society such as Australia, crime trends largely influence parliaments and ministries in crime policy management. If the media are found to be reporting an upward trend in crime figures, enough to unease the public, policy makers are put under pressure to increase punishment and change rules relating to procedures of criminal prosecution. Judicial decisions are intended to reflect public opinion; therefore a judge would then feel obliged to hand down harsher sentences (Pfeiffer, Windzio & Kleinmann, 2005). This, in turn, confirms it is imperative to address the substantial difference between the public’s perception of crime rates, and accurate crime statistics. As previous Australian and international research has indicated, a large majority of the public perceives crime rates to be increasing; they also have inaccurate views on the severity of sentencing. “The Australian Public overestimates the proportion of crime that involves violence and underestimates the proportion of charged persons who go on to be convicted and imprisoned” (Roberts & Indermaur, 2009). To help explain this contradiction in Australia, crime statistics have been analyzed and factors that could influence these inaccurate perceptions have been discovered. Two significant factors that influence the perception that crime rates are increasing, is...
Words: 2524 - Pages: 11
...people seem to be more worried by crime, the research evidence suggests crime rates are not increasing. How can we explain this apparent contradiction? Word count: 2089 The threat of crime victimisation is ever-present in our daily lives. Despite the best laid defences, each one of us are likely to become a victim of crime at some point in our life time. Such direct experiences with crime can leave devastating effects, on the victims and their loved ones, for years to come. However, the chance of becoming a victim of crime is actually very slim. Media programming and reports are an indirect form of exposure to crime and the impact crime has on its victims. The likelihood of being exposed to crime through the media is far greater than chances of victimisation. In this technology-based age, it's almost impossible to avoid crime in the media. On countless occasions, the Australian public have shown a rising perception rate of crime and have a particular fear of burglary, motor vehicle theft and robbery. However, this widely-held view is in stark contrast to actual rates of crime over the same period of time. The public's fear and perception of rising crime within Australia is strongly influenced by the media through a selective process of over-emphasising violence and crime in news reporting and television programs, portrayed without context or consequence. Recent Australian studies suggest the general public continues to perceive crime rates to be rising and that burglary...
Words: 2490 - Pages: 10
...Fear of Crime: Development, Progress, and Efforts to Erase the Negative Effects it Leaves Behind Abstract This study diagnoses the different aspects that cause fear of crime to grow or progress in society. Things that have stronger influences on the mind are considered on higher scales than others. This report has many different points; it will be focused most on: demography and how it is used to show characteristics of your 'common victim', the media's ramification’s on crime, what effects the mind has on crime, and crime within schools. It will also mention different theories and how they affect the thoughts that people have on the amount of crime around them. Crime is a topic in today's society that cast immense fear into the mind and thoughts of many people, putting hindrance on what many people do in their lives. It is depicted in abundance on television, radio, books, and other entertainment sources of today's day and age, therefore causing more people to focus in on crime. Due to the added attention on the topic, fear of crime, the physical, social, economic, and emotional vulnerability as a result of the stress from crime, is more common than it used to be. Fake court cases and exaggerated crimes are all over reality television, in turn, taking minuscule fears and making them extraordinary with every hour they sit observing them in front of their television a daily basis, one show after another. Mind over matter is a theory that is mentioned when discussing...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...The purpose of this report is to investigate the relationship between gender and the fear of crime. The method of research used is quantitative research. Fear of crime is a natural concept as well as crime itself as Emile Durkheim said “crime is normal”, and without crime society would be clinically “overcontrolled” (Void et al., 2002) People’s perceptions of fear of crime vary based on past experiences, the media influence (Ditton, 2002) and areas they live in. Based on research compiled by (Gerbner and Gross 1976; Gerbner et al, 1979) the “frequent viewers of television were more likely to believe that they might become crime victims” (Ditton, 2002). So, by over-amplifying the amount of crime in certain areas such as hate crime through the media this can have the damaging effect of intensifying fear of victimisation for individuals of different ethnicity or sexuality. Even though those who fear the crime the most are less likely to be victimised, in comparison to those who are less fearful of crime are more likely to be victimised. For example, young males are more likely to be a victim of crime than an elderly person. (McLaughlin and Muncie, 2013). In this...
Words: 878 - Pages: 4
...Services Reducing Fear of Crime Strategies for Police Gary Cordner Reducing Fear of Crime Strategies for Police Gary Cordner Kutztown University January 2010 This project was supported by Grant Number 2003-CK-WX-K049 awarded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions contained herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an endorsement by the authors or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement discussion of the issues. The Internet references cited in this publication were valid as of July 2009. Given that URLs and web sites are in constant flux, neither the authors nor the COPS Office can vouch for their current validity. Letter from the Director Dear Colleagues, Fear of crime has an incredibly corrosive effect on individuals and entire communities. This issue is of great concern to all of us in law enforcement. Fear negatively shapes all aspects of the quality of life of America’s communities. The COPS Office recognizes that people not only need to be safe, but they also need to feel safe. Treating both of these issues as two parts of a greater whole is a critical aspect of community policing. That is why we produced this document, “Reducing Fear of Crime: Strategies...
Words: 32342 - Pages: 130
...There have long been claims that the media, in one form or another, has had an overarching effect upon society, and especially so in regards to the portrayal of crime. Still, whilst this claim is not in dispute, what is of interest to us is not only the presentation of crime per se, but how and why it is created. Moreover, this approach will then enable us to consider the consequences such processes have on the public at large. To help us with this task we shall consider Stanley Cohen’s, Folk Devils & Moral Panics, (1980) and Stuart Hall et al, Policing the Crisis, (1978). What is more, we shall situate both studies within a theoretical framework of moral panics as proposed by Erich Goode and Nachman Ben-Yehuda (1994). The rationale behind this consideration is to establish the extent to which the media is seen to not only simply misrepresent the real nature of crime, but may actually construct false realties of crime. Crime consumes an enormous amount of media space as both entertainment and news. Whether it be TV cop shows, crime novels, docudramas, newspaper articles, comics, documentaries, or ‘real-life’ reconstructions, crime criminality and criminal justice appear to have an endless capacity to tap not only into public fear but also public fascination…’ (Muncie, 1996:44) The portrayal, and distribution of crime via the media, whether it has been by pamphlet, newspaper, or television has a relatively long and polemical heritage. Nonetheless, whilst it may true to say that...
Words: 2309 - Pages: 10
...when trying to attain viewers. The problem this creates is viewers base their whole day, career, and sometimes lives around what the media says. In this paper I intend to study and gather information in regards to the amount of news media people view and the development of mean world syndrome. To determine if the two are directly related. Mean World Syndrome is a phenomenon where the violence-related content of mass media convinces viewers that the world is more dangerous than it actually is, and prompts a desire for more protection than is warranted by any actual threat. (Gerber 2010) An article that presented an interesting take on this issue was Mediators of the association between television viewing and fear of crime: Perceived personal risk and perceived ability to cope by Kathleen Custers and Jan Van den Bulck. This article focuses on the explanatory process of television viewing and the fear of crime. They believe personal risk perception and ability to cope as predictors of fear most likely to be influenced by the vivid images of violence presented on television. They conducted face to face interviews with over 730 respondents all selected randomly and asked question pertaining to how safe they felt. In their findings they discovered that more people are afraid of an unarmed threat (2011). Their study also found that the Amount of...
Words: 1572 - Pages: 7
...Outline and critically assess the key assumptions underpinning approaches to crime prevention.Outline and critically assess the key assumptions underpinning approaches to crime prevention. If we look at the definition of crime, we can learn that crime is “an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law”.Crime could be labelled as one of the most disturbing facts in human`s life. Even if we can see the decrease in overall crime in 2012, we cannot be absolutely sure that it will completely disappear. Many criminologists are interested in crime prevention topic but when people are actually trying to do something with the aim to reduce crime itself, they could struggle with some issues. For example, do we actually know the cause of crime? Are we able to prevent it without a cause? How can we measure it, if it was prevented? The crucial point criminologists are making is that we have got not just crime itself but the fear of crime among society. The fear of crime was introduced to English society by the Conservative party in order to win the election. They use it as a tool, with a purpose to manipulate people. That time could be named as a starting point to massive development of programmes in order to prevent crime and if we talk about citizens - to protect themselves. For example, Farell and Pease discovered that not just the area is important as a victimisation element but that people, who have been victimised once, are more likely to experience it...
Words: 3130 - Pages: 13
...the on the media for any information regarding crime (Surette, 1998, cited in Dowler, 2003), which will influence the public’s perception of crime. Research shows that as a society we are exposed to 7,000 crimes reported in the media per year (Howitt, 1998, cited in Ainsworth, 2000). The purpose of this essay is to examine the impact of the media on fear of crime. In order for a crime to be reported by the media it must be considered newsworthy, which is determined by several factors. These factors have been defined by Chibnall (1977, cited in Newburn, 2012) as immediacy, drama, the involvement of celebrities, simplicity, spectacular acts, access to experts, novelty, and sexual or political connotations....
Words: 1090 - Pages: 5
...considered discrimination? Discrimination is the practice of unfairly treating an individual or group differently from other individuals or groups of people. (Merriam-Webster.) Discrimination is not right or fair to the individuals that are being targeted. We have seen in the last few years that law enforcement officials have been accused of discrimination against minorities especially African-Americans. We will be discussing and comparing three forms of discrimination used today by our policing agencies; institutionalized, contextual and individual acts of discrimination. Our discussion group discussed growing up what races targeted who when committing crimes. The discussion and the data provided by the Department of Justice is almost the same when discussing crimes and what each ethnic group targets to commit the crimes. Institutionalized Discrimination Institutionalized discrimination refers to the unwarranted and discrimination mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals by society and within the institutions as a whole. (Flat World Knowledge) At times when someone is being discriminated against it can be mindful and intentional by the individual that is doing it. Institutional discrimination is already built into the culture or institution and the individual that is perpetuating the discrimination may not even know that they are doing it. Institutional discrimination is already found in the normal everyday relationships within institutions...
Words: 1870 - Pages: 8
...Outline and asses the three measurements of crime When measuring crime and deviance sociologist tend to look at the different types of ways that we can measure crime; this includes, Official statistics, Victim survey and lastly self report studies. Each of these methods focuses on very different things, they also have strong and weak points but by combining them, a possible general picture of crime and deviance could be drawn. Firstly, official statistics show that public fear of being a victim of crime is rising. This stark difference between the level of crime and fear of crime has been attributed to the way of crime is reported in the media. Tabloid papers often use alarmist headlines about crime and deviance to grab the attention of readers causing a moral panic. It’s been argued that these exaggerate the chances of being victim of crime. Official statistics have strong points such as they are relatively cheap and readily available. They are published annually and they provide data on crime across the whole of the UK and also provide insight into regional differences in crime. This means that sociologists would be able to compare between different parts of the UK for example rural and urban areas. Positivist sociologists such as Functionalists are very supportive of the Official statistics; they see that this method of measuring crime is reliable, representative and valid. It also provides a true picture of the extent and nature of crime. However, this method does come with...
Words: 1365 - Pages: 6
...Cashmore, Jordan. 2014. “The ‘Fear of Crime-Media Feedback’ Cycle” Internet Journal of Criminology © 2014 ISSN 2045 6743 (Online) Thesis Reporting on violent crimes in the media is often described as fear mongering. Every day you turn on the local and national news and are bombarded with images of the violent crimes that are taking place in our cities, states and country, this increases the public’s fear of being victimized and creates a sense of impending violence. This article attempts to prove that the reporting on violent crime in the media in regards to levels of violence in our communities is actually beneficial in protecting the public by creating a: ‘Fear of Crime-Media Feedback Model’, whereby the media influences levels of fear in its audience and affects their routine activity, thereby affecting their exposure to potentially victimizing situations by encouraging avoidance behavior; influencing people to remain in their home as opposed to venturing onto the streets. The researcher believes that with further research, the model could be used to reduce the victimization risk to the public by using media reporting to influence the public’s behavior. Methods While the researcher did not conduct his own data gathering research, he did utilize research work that had been done in on this subject to support his thesis. The subject matter of these works include; the introduction of the ‘fear of Crime-Media Feedback model, violent crime and avoidance behavior, the...
Words: 761 - Pages: 4
