Social Science Week 1 Questions 1. How is crime portrayed in the mass media? How do media images of crime compare tothe reality of crime?a. Crime is portrayed horrifically in mass media. “if it bleeds it will lead”. Massmedia perception of crime causes the public perception of crime to be misled.Mass media pays more attention to violent crimes. Bad news and tragedy sells!b. The public’s understanding of crime and the criminal justice system is based onthe preconception, myths, stereotypes and media stories that distort reality. 1 sideof the argument is that people don’t understand the nature of criminal activity,how the police operate, what happens to defendants in court, who goes to prisonand for how long, etc. i. Most crime control proposals are nonsense based on politicians perpetuaterather than corrects public’s view. 2. What explains the dramatic drop in crime that began during the mid- 1990’s?a. The Great American Crime Drop. This is the dramatic drop of crime since theearly 1990’s. It is the largest and longest! There is no explanation becausecriminal behavior is extremely complex, but some argue with…. Increasedincarceration, community policing, a decline in the use of crack cocaine, astronger economy. “no single factor can be invoked as the cause of the crimedecline in the 1990’s”. i. Problem-oriented crime policy: (POCP) police should quit thinking aboutcrime as a single undifferenced phenomenon and instead break it downinto specific components. Each one is different, with different degrees ofseriousness, different causes and different impacts on individuals andneighbors. So, each one requires a different response. To fine effectiveresponses we should use the model of scanning, analysis, response, andassessment (SARA); study the problem (scan), analyze the data, developan appropriate response and then conduct an assessment. 1. Contextual factors include demographic changes. a. The justice system needs adequate resources to handle itsroutine workload effectively. When it is overloaded, seriousproblems arise. 3. What is “evidence-based policymaking?” Why is it important?a. It requires that polices to be based on a solid foundation of evidence based onresearch that meets the highest of scientific standards. This policy has added arefreshing, demanding and long overdue element of scientific rigor to policydebates. This policy sets a high standard of experimental research which hasrandom subjects randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. There is arequirement for replication. 4. What makes the study of crime, or another phenomenon, scientific? a. It is based on social science research. It is a rigorous systematic observation of thesocial world, empirical reality. It is the application of the scientific method (a setof guidelines for conducting sound research). It is the reliance on evidence.Finally, it is the application of the scientific attitude.5. Why is the New Orleans disaster described as a dramatic example of media distortion?What really happened in New Orleans? Is there any truth to the rumors of extremeviolence? How do we know?a. Why did many residents get trapped in the flooded city? Because many residentsdid not have a way to leave, others under-estimated the danger. These wereworking poor people. Did widespread violence erupt during the disaster? No, themedia reports crime and anarchy. This caused delays in rescue, because no onewanted to get involved. Why would there be rumors? Because the major and police chief fled NewOrleans and released statements. 1. They got caught up in hysteria, 2. They weretrying to send a smoke signal to the federal government, 3. They were providing arationalization for their lack of organization. So, contrary to media reports the threat of violence did not dominate NewOrleans. We know this because of surveys conducted.This disaster highlights the importance of communication and releasing accurateinformation, with timely updates and press conferences. This was a huge lessonfor the new media; that journalists cannot simply rely on public officials forinformation or other news media. And the need to prepare for worst casescenarios. 6. What are the major sources of media distortion?a. “Media bias is the bias or perceived bias of journalists and news producers withinthe mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and howthey are covered.”i. New Orleans, murderii. Lack of communication, lack of evidence, not getting caught up in thehysteria, journalist and news media cannot rely on other news media andpublic officials.Week 2 Questions1. How does the U.S. murder rate compare to that of other nations? a.2. Is the U.S. more, or less, punitive than other advanced nations? Explaina. .3. How do public perceptions of the crime problem (including youth violence) comparewith actual trends in crime?a. It is impossible to report the total amount of crime in the media. i. This causes a distorted view of crime. It grabs attention, as it shows the“out of control” nature of crime. This has consequences, as it shapes ourview. ii. This gives us “mean world syndrome” This is that heavy viewers of crimenews; believe more in heavy punishment, that crime is rising, and thefeeling of unsafety. This affects their perception and behavior. b. News coverage is highly selective i. There is an emphasis on unusual, sensational crimes ii. Newsworthiness:1. Stranger violence, multiple victims or offenders, unusual methods.2. White victims, children, elderly, female victims, occurrence in anaffluent neighborhood. c. The actual trends in crime is proving that crime is decreasing. 4. What is the “super predator” myth?a. “A new brand of super predator youth criminals” A new horde from hell that kills,maims and terrorizes merely to become known or for no reason at all. (JohnDilulio)i. These kids have no conscious so they cannot be rehabilitated. b. This came about in the 1990’s, but it is wrong. However, it is always in the news.9 out of 10 times the news media only wants dramatic quotes. SO, criminologistsare really reluctant to corporate with the news medias. 5. How can we explain, in future detail, the crime drop?a. People