Testing the Mediated Fear model in adolescents : A longitudinal study.

The relationship between media exposure and fear of crime has been studied predominantly from the perspective of the cultivation theory. This theory assumes that repeated exposure to violent television content may, in the long run, distort people’s perceptions and feelings about criminal victimization in the real world. To date, the relationship between media and fear of crime has focused primarily on adults. The impact of the mass media on fear of crime in adolescents has largely been neglected. This seems odd as adolescents (1) are exposed frequently to media violence, (2) are more likely to produce risk judgments using processes that are vulnerable to media effects and (3) are more likely to be socialized by the media. In addition, the media-fear association has been examined mainly as a short term effect. In the context of cultivation theory a long term perspective would be more appropriate.

This project proposes to examine the relationship between media exposure and fear of crime in adolescents longitudinally. Two cohorts three years apart will be followed for at least three years to chart changes in perceptions and emotions (i.e., fear) and to study how these changes relate to media exposure (television viewing and video game play). It is expected that this longitudinal study will contribute significantly to the research on processes explaining a long-term relationship between media use and fear of crime in adolescents.