Opinion: Crime and the media

Repeated exposure to violent crime-related material may desensitize the viewer to the crime or the suffering of others

By Ananya Saxena and Dr. Garima Rajan

Crime shows have become a staple on Indian television and are now regularly aired. These series, from the grim realism of CID to the more lurid fare of Crime Patrol, have captured the interest of audiences across the country. But how true are these depictions of the crime? How do they affect the way we think about law and order?

Public screen roles ranging from Chulbul Pandey to ACP Pradhyuman have become household legends. The characters have been transformed into flamboyant entertainments of legislative officials who lack the typical experience of the public. How police officers, lawyers and judges are portrayed on television can influence how people perceive them.

media criminology

This link between the emotions, attitudes and behaviors of audiences and popular media is known as “media criminology” (Ghosh, 2014). Today, due to the blurring between fiction and non-fiction, it is increasingly difficult to draw the line between media narrative and audience narrative.

Repeated exposure to such violent crime-related material may desensitize viewers to the crime or the suffering of others. This can be considered the most common problem today, despite the fact that there is no evidence that every viewer will act like a criminal. Conversely, sensitive viewers are more likely to experience cognitive stress, anxiety, and fear of victimization. As George Gerbner points out, there is a possibility of exaggerating the problem and treating the environment as the most dangerous environment on earth. This phenomenon is known as “mean world syndrome” (Narahari & Mukherji, 2018).

crime thriller

Whether they’re fiction, non-fiction, or semi-fiction, reality crime shows unearth true crime stories in believable ways and stir strong emotions. For example, Savdhaan India has a series of narratives in which characters represent actual crime scenes as police detectives investigate them. Additionally, the scenes include victim or family interviews, crime analysis and images of suspects. The presenter then goes a step further with oratory skills to engage the audience, dramatize the show and stir their emotions.

A 2019 study by Civic Studios found that “vigilante” is a common theme among Indian crime and courtroom thrillers, and often idealizes extrajudicial methods of law enforcement. This convinces viewers to endorse real-world policing behavior and fabricated police interactions. Using a sample of 30 crime dramas from popular TV shows, movies and OTT series from 2016 to 2019, the study examines the portrayal of the Indian criminal justice system. Some of these are Pink, Jolly LL.B, Sacred Games, Crime Patrol, and Client ID.

The results showed that the character actions and dialogue in these TV shows, web series, and movies often suggested diminished believability and inadequate concepts when discussing the criminal justice system. Still, stories that depict justice through legislation against adversaries go some way toward building viewer confidence in the system.

The report is intended as a basis for discussing the need for more media impact research, developing collaborative and ready-made research resources for researchers and filmmakers in justice and policing, and improving the foundations of democracy and civic engagement through real stories from public institutions (Civic Studios, 2017).

The role of the media

Academics argue that the consumption of violent media content induces crime and aggressive behaviour, while others claim that media may influence crime only as an inspiration for criminal strategies and styles (parody) rather than as a driving force behind crime. example:
● Inspired by “Drishyam” (2015), a murder suspect in Derry, after being released from prison on parole, staged an assault on himself in July 2021 to frame his neighbors.
● In August 2022, seven people were detained in Delhi, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh for allegedly impersonating Mumbai Police and robbing a health center at Netaji Subash Place Complex, Delhi. According to the authorities, the suspects took advantage of a criminal plot scene in “Special 26” (2013), starring Manoj Bajpayee and Akshay Kumar.

According to psychologist Wayne Warburton (2014), most studies show that when individuals are influenced by violent media, audiences are more likely to be encouraged by violent content, hostile thoughts and attitudes, and aggressive behavior in the short and long term become desensitized.

Although most criminologists argue that those who commit violent crimes are primarily inspired by media violence, there is little evidence that the media has an influence on the way some criminals commit crimes. Criminal psychologist Ray Surette, in his study of violent juvenile offenders, found that “about one-third of teens report having considered copycat crimes, and about one-quarter report having actually done so.” Tried copycat crime.” According to his findings, “young people who identified themselves as copycats were more likely to attribute the media to both general and personal influence” (Phillips, 2017).

bobo doll experiment

Albert Bandura’s bobo doll experiment (1960) was one of the early experiments that attempted to explain psychological motivation through observable behavior. Children who have experienced violent behavior, whether in real life or on screen, respond more positively than children who have not been exposed to such behavior. The underlying hypothesis is that children acquire new skills through imitation and exposure to the world.

Indian media and movies often portray crime in flawed and sensational ways. This can lead to a distorted perception of reality with adverse consequences. With how digital transformation has changed viewing habits and audiences, the audience appeal of new media formats has changed significantly.

Therefore, for films and television shows with global audiences, it is critical to uphold ethical principles that promise fair portrayals and raise issues that have gone unnoticed in the past for deeper scrutiny. These shows have the power to influence public opinion and create emotional audiences in order to uphold basic human rights.

Public access to media information is regulated globally, particularly by criminal justice systems. According to several judicial systems, including India, each party’s right to speech does not include participation in systemic contempt. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether the purpose of court systems to restrict media freedom is consistent with how they interpret the media’s impact on these systems (Rios, 2018).