“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous…” These are the words first spoken at the beginning of each and every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU). Millions of people tune in to watch the renowned crime drama every week. People are seemingly drawn to the ugly expositions of violence followed by the pursuit of justice. Television crime dramas which sensationalize abhorrent wrongdoings are some of the most popular programs available. Is this bad for our society? Does the constant viewing of violent deeds lead individuals to make assumptions about the world which are based in fiction rather than reality?

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Yes, according to the mean world syndrome. This theory, which was introduced by George Gerbner circa 1976, posits that individuals who consume large amounts of television will believe the world is a much more dangerous place than it is and will be more fearful than others (“Cultivation Theory,” 2010). This is a direct result of viewers being frequently exposed to violence.

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There are a host of prime-time crime dramas which dominate television channels and draw in viewers with each new episode presenting the promise of shock, unthinkable violence, and justice. None, however, have earned more prestige than SVU. In fact, the hit show, produced by Dick Wolf, was just renewed for its 21st season, a record-breaking accomplishment making it the longest-running live action series in primetime history (Brian, 2019). Each episode in this series features a violent, sexually-oriented crime which is followed by an investigation that keeps audiences on their toes.

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In season 20, episode 15 entitled “Brothel” a young woman is seen attempting to leave the prostitution ring which traffics her. She manages to get away from her client and even takes a gun from the muscle of the operation. Just when viewers think she may get away from the life she so detests, she is pushed off the edge of a building and murdered. The remainder of the episode is dedicated to detecting foul play and ultimately locking away her traffickers. During the course of the investigation, another victim who is left for dead goes on to identify the leaders of the operation. This unveils a dirty cop who was working against law enforcement as well as a judge who orchestrated the illegal business.

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This episode displays extremely graphic images which leave the audience shivering in the safety of their own homes. This also draws viewers back for more as they experience a myriad of emotions including sorrow, hope, and triumph in each episode as they root for victims and condemn the villains. However, mean world syndrome says constantly witnessing these nefarious acts leads one to fear the outside world. After all, as displayed in “Brothel,” even people who are supposed to act as safeguards for society cannot be trusted. It is no wonder viewers of crime dramas estimate the world to be a cruel, unforgiving place. Seeing these crimes leads to increased fear, which may keep viewers inside, waiting to view next week’s episode. Thus, their negative views regarding society are reinforced.

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Not to mention, the show’s content is “ripped from the headlines,” as episodes are loosely based on crimes that were previously committed (Brian, 2019). The distinction that episodes are tied to real events quite liberally is an essential one to make, events are dramatized to appeal to consumers rather than to depict reality. Yet the basis in “reality” exacerbates viewers’ belief in a mean world. This is interesting particularly regarding SVU over other crime dramas which are entirely fiction, because the perceived realism of these programs is strongly associated with intensified fear of crimes (Grabe & Drew, 2007).

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An apparent example of someone who is afflicted by the mean world syndrome, Brian writes, “As we live in a time when we see more alarming sexual assault from the non-famous and famous, it makes SVU a singularly important show to keep us cognizant of harsh reality,” (2019). This statement, spurred on by the contents of SVU, would lead people to believe that the crime rate, including sexual assault, is rising. Despite this belief, FBI data indicates that violent crimes decreased by 4.3 percent for the first half of 2018 compared to that time in 2017 (“Preliminary Report,” 2019). The assumption of an increasing crime rate regardless of reality is a fundamental facet appearing in the mean world syndrome. One study concluded that heavy television-crime viewers judge 2.5 times more real-world deaths due to murder than their counterparts (“Tv Crime Dramas,” 2009). People who watch crime dramas are more likely to overestimate numbers with respect to crimes in general, not just concerning murder (“Tv Crime Dramas,” 2009).

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Stemming from this, people may develop a fear of victimization which causes individuals to feel discomfort and question their own security (“Tv Crime Dramas,” 2009). People affected by the mean world syndrome are more likely to believe their neighborhoods are unsafe (“Cultivation Theory,” 2010). For example, a study found that heavy-viewers are more likely to be afraid walking by themselves in their own neighborhood at night than those with lighter viewing habits (Jamieson & Romer, 2013). The same study concurred with Gerbner’s explanation upon finding that change in viewership of television violence was correlated with change in national fear from 1972-2010 (Jamieson & Romer, 2013).

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In conclusion, the mean world syndrome is oftentimes apparent in those who frequently view television crime dramas, including SVU. This comes with deleterious effects for these individuals including overestimations of danger and intensified fear of the world. This is a profound issue because a multitude of people are affected by the mean world syndrome. This is evident based on the ubiquity and popularity of crime dramas which further exacerbate the matter. Future research could be conducted regarding how high levels of crime drama viewing and the mean world syndrome impacts jurors. This poses a critical problem because they have power over the outcomes of criminal cases and over the lives of people (“Tv Crime Dramas,” 2009). If a juror is a victim of the mean world syndrome, he/she may be more likely to convict defendants than someone who is not guided by those false realities.

 

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References

 

 

Brian, G. (2019, March 31). 'Law and Order: SVU' Just Broke This TV Record. The Cheat Sheet. Retrieved fromhttps://advance-lexis-com.mutex.gmu.edu/document/?pdmfid=1516831&crid=017cbe2a-2844-4042-a8d5-c88aa51f0084&pddocfullpath=%2Fshared%2Fdocument%2Fnews%2Furn%3AcontentItem%3A5VSC-NVB1-F03R-N1HH-00000-00&pddocid=urn%3AcontentItem%3A5VSC-NVB1-F03R-N1HH-00000-00&pdcontentcomponentid=299488&pdteaserkey=sr1&pditab=allpods&ecomp=1fyk&earg=sr1&prid=dcb96fcf-6547-4339-b91d-4020493aaebe

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Cultivation theory: How violence might affect us. (2010, March 12). Mass Communication Theory. Retrieved fromhttps://masscommtheory.com/2010/03/12/cultivation-theory-how-violence-might-affect-us/.

 

Grabe, M., & Drew, D. (2007). Crime Cultivation: Comparisons Across Media Genres and Channels. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(1), 147–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838150701308143

 

Jamieson, P. & Romer, D. (2013). Violence in Popular U.S. Prime Time TV Dramas and the Cultivation of Fear: A Time Series Analysis. Media and Communication, 2(2), 31–41. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.5103.1683

 

TV Crime Dramas Skew Perception of System. (2009). USA Today Magazine, 138(2775), 11. Retrieved fromhttp://search.ebscohost.com.mutex.gmu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=46990270&site=ehost-live

 

Preliminary Report. (2019, January 21). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved from https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/preliminary-report