Perceived vulnerability to crime, criminal victimization experience, and television viewing

Abstract

Survey data were utilized to examine the relationship between television viewing and perceptions of personal vulnerability to crime. The analyses revealed that the strength and direction of such associations were contingent upon: (a) the viewer's predominant modality or source of criminal victimization experience (mediated, interpersonal, or direct); (b) the type of primetime television program viewed (crime‐related or noncrime‐related); and (c) the contextual nature of the perception of personal vulnerability to crime being considered. Discussion of the implications of these findings for future research focused on the relationship between television viewing and social perceptions.