Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that the mass media are a major cause of crime and deviance in today’s society. (21 marks)

It could be argued that with some issues, the media plays a heavy role in influencing people to commit crime. Interactionist sociologists could argue that the media provide a form of database for imitation/copy cat crimes and from seeing these crimes the public are more likely to do them. In the media people are exposed to various types of crime, mainly violent and sexual and so might feel the want to copy these. For example, the copies of Jack the Ripper, the serial killer named the Zodiac or other serious crimes such as school shootings inspired by coverage of the Columbine shooting in America. Therefore it could be argued that the mass media which exposes these crimes to the population could cause these crimes, as they directly relate the crimes reported on.

However it could be argued that these crimes which are reported as copy cat actually occur at a much lesser scale than we think. For instance these school shooings and serial killings do not happen as occasionally as might be thought. Although sociologists might argue that the main source of influence even for the small amount of crimes is the mainstream media which reported on them and exaggerated them in the first place. Meaning that media could be seen as a major cause of some crime in this aspect.

Left realists argue that media is a major cause of crime also for the fact that it promotes these ideals of wealth, leisure and white superiority which are not available to every member of society. For example Merton’s strain theory explains that there are goals in society which the media promote, like having your own house, disposable income and great leisure opportunities, but doesn’t allow this for everyone to achieve legitimately. So the alternative to