Crime victims, non-victims and television use : viewing patterns, perceived realism of content, and fear of victimization

This study examines the differences between crime victims (victims of assault, robbery, and abduction) and non-victims in three areas: (1) consumption of local television news programs and network crime/law enforcement drama, (2) perceived realism of televised crime drama, and (3) fear of victimization. Personal interviews were conducted with 40 victims and 40 non-victims, all of whom resided in the same low-crime community in Houston, TX, during the last four months of 1987. The groups contained equal numbers of men and women. Data analyses indicate no significant differences between victims and non-victims in either the proportions of local news or the proportions of network crime drama viewed. Nor do analyses show significant differences between victims and non-victims in perceived realism of televised crime/law enforcement drama content. Analysis does show a weak, positive correlation between television consumption and fear of victimization; however, victims and non-victims do not differ significantly. No significant gender differences are found in either consumption of news and crime drama or in perceived realism of crime drama. Gender or victimization experience appear to have no significant effect on the amount of television watched; however, gender alone appears to have a significant effect on fear of victimization (p <.001), as does victimization experience (p <.001). Men exhibit the strongest correlation between television consumption and fear of victimization (r = .41). Analysis shows a weak negative correlation between television consumption and perceived realism of crime program content.