Predictors of Viewing and Enjoyment of Reality-Based and Fictional Crime Shows

Abstract

Telephone surveys were conducted in Virginia and Wisconsin to explore attitudinal predictors of exposure to and enjoyment of reality-based and fictional crime programs. Punitive attitudes about crime, higher levels of racial prejudice, and higher levels of authoritarianism were associated w'th more frequent viewing and greater enjoyment of reality-based programming, but were unrelated to enjoyment of fictional programming. Reality-based viewing and enjoyment were also more common among younger respondents, respondents with lower levels of education, and respondents who were heavier television viewers.Fictional crime or detective dramas have enjoyed popularity since the early days of television.' Until recently, though, actual reports of crime and images of arrests and criminal suspects tended to be confined to news reports. However, viewers today do not necessarily need to turn to news to see actual video footage or reenactments of crimes; this sort of material is readily available (and very popular) in the form of reality-based programming.2 As one critic described, "Conspiracies, unsolved mysteries, horrible accidents, missing children, America's most wanted criminals, and, now, real-life beatings, shootings, and violent deaths. When it comes to prime-time entertainment today, these are a few of our favorites thing^."^ Although many researchers using a cultivation perspective have explored the ways that these sorts of violent images may affect viewers' attitudes and beliefs, the present research recognized that viewers' attitudes also likely play a simultaneous role in the selection and enjoyment of these types of programs? Zillmann's Disposition Theory was employed to explore several attitudes associated with viewing and enjoyment of reality-based crime shows? Predictors of viewing fictional crime programs were also examined to differentiate enjoyment of reality-based programs with standard, fictional entertainment! Zillmann and Bryant have suggested that viewer enjoyment of media messages is largely a function of dispositions toward the characters involved in portrayals of conflict and the outcomes that the characters e~perience.~ Specifically, Zillmann explained that viewer gratification is strongest when liked characters experience positive outcomes (e.g., reward, victory, etc.) and when disliked characters experience negative outcomes (e.g., punishment, loss, etc.).8

Media Effects on Racial Attitudes: Evidence from a Three-Wave Panel Survey in a Political Campaign

“…First, most studies are cross-sectional and, therefore, the causal order of variables cannot be derived from these surveys. While some scholars have found that media use predicts racial attitudes (Armstrong, Neuendorf, & Brentar, 1992;Dixon, 2008), others have demonstrated that prejudiced individuals use media programs that portray ethnic minorities negatively (Oliver & Armstrong, 1995;Schemer, 2012a). These findings highlight the fact that the causal direction of variables cannot be determined using cross-sectional data.…”

Investigating Personality and Viewing-Motivation Correlates of Reality Television Exposure

“…In addition, reality television is of interest to media effects researchers, who seek to understand if and how it shapes viewers' thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about the world around them (e.g., Cavendar & Bond-Maupin, 1993;Oliver & Armstrong, 1995). Studying the personality antecedents and motivations for viewing reality television will allow researchers to better understand who is likely to be drawn to reality television and with what potential impact (Rubin, 2002).…”

Transmission creep

“…Bryant and his colleagues (1981) found that heavy viewing of action-adventure programs increased fearfulness and anxiety levels, especially if justice did not ultimately prevail in the viewed programs. Oliver and Armstrong (1995) found higher levels of racial prejudice, as well as punitive attitudes about crime, associated with frequent viewing and greater enjoyment of reality-based programming -though a cultivation effect did not hold for fictional programming. More recently, Kahlor and Eastin (2011) found that large amounts of rape-related content in soap operas and crime dramas "independently cultivate perceptions related to rape and sexual assault" (227), with viewers of those genres more likely to accept rape myths and overestimate false accusations.…”