Paper Example on Victimization: Its Forms & Effects

Introduction

Victimization is the act of singling an individual out to treat them unjustly or cruelly. Moreover, victimization may occur to an individual, group or even a community however, the crime itself may happen to a person or property. There are many forms of victimization which include; physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, robbery, and lastly assault. Hence, the crime of victimization has significant effects on people emotionally, physically, financially and socially.

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Question 1

Gerbner describes the media as storytellers because its mas produces stories, messages images that reach millions of people who could never be reached by the same source unlike in the olden days where storytelling was only done to groups of people mainly through the same source. However, these people have nothing in common except for shared publications. On the other hand, happy violence refers to images of violence with zero consequences. It is swift and glamorous and consequently leads to a happy ending in which evil is always prevailed by good. For example, a movie that portrays the killing of a bad guy by a hero after a length of time. Happy violence often represents death without consequences because the act of violence always comes with humor to make people feel good about what is being portrayed (Lawrence, 2002). Therefore, it appeals to a larger audience without causing controversy.

Question 2

Mean world syndrome occurs when an individual has long term exposure to television and many other factors that tend to contribute to an independent feeling of living in a mean gloomy world that is filled with many acts of violence. This feeling consequently leads to a sense of vulnerability such as believing that an individual's neighborhood is unsafe and also assumes that crime levels are increasing even though they are not. Subsequently, an individual with this syndrome feels safe through purchasing new padlocks, watchdogs and also guns to protect themselves. On the contrary magic bullet theory describes that the media's message can directly influence or manipulate an intended recipient's perception. This is because the theory tends to rely on the notion that the public is passive and gullible therefore, it can be easily influenced (Lawrence, 2002). To support the cultivation analysis Gerbner and filmmakers provide evidence such as the more an individual watches television, the more likely the person will adopt the underlying message as portrayed in the television

Question 3

Commercial media creates mean people and racist attitudes this is because George Gerbner in his cultivation theory states that heavy television viewers are likely to feel that they are residing in a violent society. Additionally, he emphasized the media's influence on attitudes in that, long term viewing can also be a way of cultivating attitudes such as an individual watching racist programs that can adopt racist attributes.

Question 4

Commercial media has led to the following ramifications; media violence in that an individual may learn violent behavior from television characters. Additionally, drugs and alcohol abuse because of the tempting adverts on television viewed by children and adolescents and lastly, antisocial behaviors because of always watching television and not socializing with other people.

Question 5

In summary, the mean world syndrome is a learned behavior mostly influenced through programs watched on commercial media. It has led to many acts of violence because of the assumption's individuals make after being exposed to the media. These acts include police brutality. In cases of strikes or unjust treatment, the public involves themselves looting or breaking windows and doors of other people instead of peaceful demonstrations as they have seen done on televisions. This consequently leads to police brutality or even deaths.

References

Lawrence, R. G. (2000). The politics of force: Media and the construction of police brutality. Univ of California Press.