Criminological Theories: Examining Media's Role in Crime Perception

This essay examines the application of criminological theories, particularly focusing on the media's role in sensationalizing crime through political narratives such as inequality, racism, and oppression. It discusses how media outlets use these theories to increase ratings and support specific political viewpoints, often prioritizing emotional reactions over factual reporting. The essay also touches on biological and psychological theories through an analysis of violent media, suggesting a link between media consumption and aggression. Furthermore, it contrasts media-driven explanations of crime with sociological perspectives, highlighting concerns about oversimplification. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and solved assignments for students.

CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES

Table of Contents
Question 1........................................................................................................................................2
Question 2........................................................................................................................................2
Question 3........................................................................................................................................2
Question 4........................................................................................................................................2
References........................................................................................................................................3
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Question 1
Political theories are being used by the media to spike their rating in more money. Whenpolitical
theories such as inequality, racism and oppression are involved in any crime, media react more
actively and report with more sensational.It is generally used to increase the rating point of
media. It also provides support to certain political viewpoints. This type of privatizationalways
helps to get more advertisement from the party that provides support to the political
viewpoint.The main focus of media is to encourage emotional reaction in the viewers (Akers,
2012). And this is being achieved very easily by claiming that the crime caused due to inequity,
racism and oppression. Let’s say, a person is killed and media reported that the killer was born to
kill, and he killed. This does not seem like shocking news if media put political theories into it
and report that the person was murdered because of racism, and then it will create an emotion to
the viewers.
Question 2
Again, the politicaltheoriescan most be seen in today’s mass media, as it spikes their rating and
more money. People find more interest in politics that’s why media use political theories to make
crime report sensational.Whenever a crime happens cause of inequity, oppression, and racism it
attracts a certain category of people and this kind of news always become a headline. It helps the
media to get more advertisement (Burke, 2014). Media often broadcast racism related news
because it is watched by a large audience and it is the most seen content in the US.
Question 3
I had watched SAW which is based on serial killing with a different type of killing method. It
comes under Biological theories and also psychological theories, as the killer was born with a
tendency to be violent and at the same time all the crimes caused by defective mental or
personality development. The killer was looking like a psycho; he was killing multiple people
and every time in a different way. He did not have any reason to kill. He was just killing random
people and he was getting pleasure in doing that. It was like a game for him (Graham &
Monteith, 2011). The way he was using to kill,was very cruel. Only a mentally defected people
can do that.
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Question 4
There is an increment in evidence that the media is contributing to the development of
aggression. In the United States, children spend an average of 3-4 hours per day watching
television and then it is found that 60% of programs contain some violence and somewhat
around 40% of these are heavy violent content. Multiple studies have been done on this topic and
the result was the same and reached the same conclusion, that television violence increase
aggression (Merino, 2011).For an example, Herald, 1986; Hongben, 1998; Huston et al., 1992;
National Institute of Mental Health 1998 etc. Sociological explanations for crime do not support
this. Ferguson mentioned that the media is attempting to simplify the problem and the claims
rose in violence which needs to be considered by television.
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References
Akers, R. (2012). Criminological theories (6th ed.). New York: Routledge.
Burke, R. (2014). An introduction to criminological theory (8th ed.). Abingdon, Oxon:
Routledge.
Graham, A., & Monteith, S. (2011). Media (5th ed.). Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina
Press.
Merino, N. (2011). Media violence (4th ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
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