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Study: TV crime shows affect in viewers' opinions

  • Originally published February 27, 2011 at 9 a.m., updated February 27, 2011 at 9:01 a.m.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who surveyed hundreds of adults say that TV crime shows play a role in viewers' opinions about crime and the justice system.

Lisa Kort-Butler is an assistant professor of sociology and the study's lead author. She says the survey results support the idea that program type matters in understanding people's fear of crime.

Among the study's findings:

The more frequently people watched nonfiction crime documentaries such "The First 48" or "Dateline," the more fearful the people were of becoming crime victims. They also were less confident in the criminal justice system.

Kort-Butler also says the nonfiction programs offer more realism and may have more psychological impact than crime fiction.

The study appears in the current edition of The Sociological Quarterly.