Media, fear of crime and punitiveness

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14393/par-v8n1-2023-69343

Keywords:

Media consumption, Fear of crime, Punitiveness

Abstract

The scientific literature has extensively studied the impacts of the media and, more recently, of social media on the different perceptions of individuals. One of the most empirically tested relationships since the studies of Gerbner and Gross (1976) is between media consumption (e.g., television) and fear of crime. Additionally, although less common, studies have also shown that support for tougher criminal policies can derive from news consumption. However, the culture of fear can also affect the search for more punitive responses. Thus, through a literature review, this article explores, on the one hand, the relationship between (social) media consumption and punitiveness and, on the other hand, the mediating role of fear in that relationship. It is expected, therefore, to fill a relevant gap in the scientific literature in the area.

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Author Biographies

Matilde Inês Moreira de Vilhena Ferreira, Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto (FDUP) – Porto – Portugal

Estudante finalista da Licenciatura em Criminologia pela Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto. Realizou o seu estágio curricular no CJS (Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar - Crime, Justiça e Segurança). Membro do Departamento de Advocacy da RESHAPE, onde colabora com desenvolvimento de investigação científica.

Samuel Ricardo Neves Moreira, Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto (FDUP) – Porto – Portugal

Doutor em Criminologia, é Professor Auxiliar Convidado da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto e da Universidade Lusíada – Norte (Porto) e investigador afiliado no CJS (Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar - Crime, Justiça e Segurança) e no CEJEA (Centro de Estudos Jurídicos, Económicos e Ambientais). As suas principais áreas de lecionação e investigação são a segurança, o policiamento e o cibercrime.

Inês Maria Ermida de Sousa Guedes, Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto (FDUP) – Porto – Portugal

Doutorada em Criminologia e Professora Auxiliar da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto. É membro fundadora e integrada do Centro de investigação interdisciplinar - Crime, Justiça e Segurança (CJS) da FDUP, onde integra a linha de investigação “Segurança e Criminalidade". Membro colaboradora do Centro de Estudos Jurídicos, Económicos e Ambientais (CEJEA). Faz parte do Conselho Diretor da Associação Internacional de Criminologia de Língua Portuguesa (AICLP) e é membro do European Working Group on Cybercrime.

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Published

2023-06-29

How to Cite

Ferreira, M. I. M. de V., Moreira, S. R. N., & Guedes, I. M. E. de S. (2023). Media, fear of crime and punitiveness. Paradoxos, 8(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.14393/par-v8n1-2023-69343