Media and Crime Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is a common stereotype of female victims in fictional media?
Helpless
This stereotype often portrays women as vulnerable and dependent on male characters for protection.
What term describes the media’s focus on certain types of crime over others?
Selective Reporting
This phenomenon often leads to an imbalance in the representation of crime types in the media.
According to Surette (1998), what does the Law of Opposites state about media crime reporting?
The media shows the direct opposite of official statistics
For example, the media emphasizes violent crime while most crimes are property-based.
What is one way Functionalism views the media’s role in crime reporting?
It helps to keep social solidarity
The media reflects public concern and demand for crime stories.
How do Marxists view crime reporting in the media?
It reflects the ideology of the ruling class
This perspective suggests that crimes of the powerful are under-reported while working-class crimes are over-reported.
What criticism do feminists have regarding media crime reporting?
It reinforces the stereotyping and oppression of women
Women are often portrayed as victims, and violence against them is under-reported.
What do interpretivists believe about the media’s role in defining deviance?
The media acts as a moral entrepreneur
This means it labels individuals as deviant based on societal perceptions.
According to Baudrillard, what does the media create regarding crime?
Reality
People understand crime only through the representations they see in the media.
Fill in the blank: The idea that people will act out crimes they view in the media is known as _______.
Imitation
What effect does desensitization have on people’s reactions to violence in media?
It lowers their level of shock value
This can make individuals more likely to commit violent acts themselves.
What is the Hypodermic Syringe Model?
It suggests that media audiences are passive recipients of messages
Audiences supposedly act mindlessly on media messages without critical thought.
What is a Moral Panic?
An instance of public anxiety or alarm regarding a perceived threat to moral standards
This often leads to scapegoating specific groups.
What is Missing White Woman Syndrome?
The media’s tendency to focus on white middle-class women as victims
This reflects societal stereotypes of ideal victims.
List two criticisms of Moral Panic Theory by McRobbie and Thornton.
- Frequency of moral panics has increased
- Today, there are many viewpoints and values in society
True or False: The media emphasizes violent crime over property crime according to the Law of Opposites.
True
How does the media create fear of crime?
By generating stories that cause public concern about being victims
This cycle can lead individuals to consume more media and spend more time at home.
What is one impact of the media’s portrayal of crime on young men?
They are often shown as more likely victims of crime
This is contrary to the media’s focus on female victims.
What does the term ‘glamorisation’ refer to in media crime representation?
The portrayal of a glamorous view of the criminal lifestyle
Shows like ‘The Sopranos’ can influence people to emulate criminal behavior.
