Crime appears to capture the attention of the public, portrayed in the news as well as in popular media. The popularity of crime shows on television is a testament to the public's fascination with criminal behavior. The way crime is portrayed in the media can have a dramatic impact on the public's perception of crime rates and personal safety. In addition, there are criminals who appear to be motivated to commit crime just for the opportunity of gaining attention through news media.
Research newspaper or magazine articles related to crime using the print or online news media. Start a log of these articles.
Select two articles or news stories to which you can apply psychological theories of criminal behavior. Psychological theories include examining personality traits, intelligence, and mental illness. Be sure to include at least one article in which the defendant is using an insanity defense.
Write an analysis of each article or news story addressing the following:
- What is the purpose of the story as you perceive it?
- How is crime or criminal justice portrayed?
- What feelings or reactions are evoked in you by the article?
- How would you explain the reported criminal behavior using at least two theories from the psychological perspectives to each article or news story?