NCJ Number
59492
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Issue: 327 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 109-117
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A GERMAN TELEVISION PRODUCER CONTENDS THAT THE MASS MEDIA DO NOT CAUSE CRIME, BUT CAN PROVIDE CHILDREN WHO ARE ALREADY MALADJUSTED OR HAVE CRIMINAL TENDENCIES WITH ADDITIONAL MOTIVES.
Abstract
THIS STUDY IS BASED ON RECENT SURVEYS DEALING WITH TELEVISION AND CRIME, ALTHOUGH THE THEORIES WOULD BE VALID FOR OTHER MEDIA. IT IS CLEAR THAT TELEVISION HAS REPLACED THE CINEMA AS THE POPULAR SCAPEGOAT FOR CAUSING CRIME INCREASES. COMPARISONS OF INCREASES IN THE TELEVISION AND RADIO AUDIENCES WITH INCREASES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY DO NOT REVEAL ANY SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS. BRITISH AND AUSTRIAN STUDIES OF ATTITUDES TOWARD TELEVISION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS AND NONOFFENDERS ARE DETAILED. NEITHER STUDY DISCOVERED CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND DELINQUENCY. IN THE AUSTRIAN PROJECT, HOWEVER, JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WERE AWARE THAT TELEVISION SHOWED THEM NEW OFFENSES AND OPERATING METHODS. BOTH GROUPS PREFERRED CRIME SERIES TO ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS, AND THIS WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN VIOLENCE BY YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVES FURTHER INVESTIGATION. MALADJUSTED CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCES, AND VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA COULD CONDITION THEM TO ACCEPT BRUTALITY IN REAL LIFE. TELEVISION PROGRAMMERS IN WEST GERMANY HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE TO THE VIOLENCE ISSUE AND REDUCED VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN'S SERIES, AS WELL SHOWING VIOLENT SCENES AT LATER EVENING HOURS. PARENTS SHOULD CONTROL THEIR CHILDRENS' USE OF TELEVISION AND DISCUSS PROGRAMS WITH THEM. FOR A RELATED ARTICLE, SEE NCJ-53242. (MJM)