Page 34 - Pure Life 11

Modern Media and Changing the Functions of Family /33

It can be argued from above discussion that by
affecting family structure from one hand and specific
portrayal of crime from another, media exert influence on
the formation and decrease of social crimes.
The effect of media can directly lead to social
misconducts, however, this effect is not general, only
sporadic cases. Witnessing a bank robbery or a shop
lifting act or a family theft can tempt a teenage viewer to
commit the same crime.
The influence of satellite channels or movies that do
not come from the filter of government and thus lack
censorship and control is even graver and worse. Sexual
crimes are often committed under the influence of such
movies and the wrongdoers mostly confess that.
TV programs, especially soap operas that are created in
one’s country, are very popular depending on their themes
and quality of production. However, in some cases such
TV programs blatantly violate the principles that the
society needs. Propagation of luxurious lives, and
depiction of very wealthy persons whose lives and houses
can only be seen in dreams will have severe consequences
on families and the society at large.
Theory of Social Reflection of Crime states that by
continuously showing seductive and pleasant pictures of
crimes, and depicting criminals as heroes, media are
weakening our self-control. This theory has been
investigated in psychological theories about
decontrolization and desensitivization of formation of
motivations for committing crimes.