Are Crime Shows Leading To More Crimes In Society?

From Shraddha Walker to the Delhi Dhaba Fridge case, murders have recently gotten grisly and gruesome. While the intent to commit a murder, let alone acting on it, is highly problematic, how do these people think of such horrid ways to kill someone and cover their tracks? What is influencing them to act out in such a monstrous way?

According to 2021 data from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 82 murder cases were registered in India every day. One of the main reasons is the influence of the media. Since the pandemic, many people have become obsessed with OTT platforms, which have an ample supply of crime shows, both real and fictional. Undoubtedly, true crime stories like The Jeffery Dahmer Story, The Ted Bundy Tapes, Delhi Crime, The Indian Predator, etc. are made to entertain the audience.

Knowing the pattern of killers, their obsession, their backstory, and how they manage to get away is intriguing. Personally, I travel along with the story and experience a sense of satisfaction and comfort when each crime is solved. The way both the criminal and the police think and counter each other’s plans is absolutely enthralling, and the nail-biting moments give an adrenaline rush.

Negative Impact Of Crime Shows

While it is undeniable that these shows do make intriguing viewing and have a huge fan following, the negative impacts they might have on some people cannot be overlooked. Crime shows provide a detailed description of crimes, how criminals think and carry out their plans, and help to make real-life criminals more creative.

"Our media consumption does influence our perception and thought processes. Research (Kottak, 1990) clearly states that children and youth who watch more aggressive and violent shows become immune to them and are more likely to act out in the same way," said Sarika Karnad, a psychologist at Gytree.

Explaining how crime shows can add to a criminal’s creativity, Karnad said, "In terms of criminal behavior, when crime shows show exactly how a person hit their DNA or got their hands on a crime, it can lead to a better understanding of the judicial and investigative systems in place."

Crime shows like Ted Bundy or biographical crime thriller movies like Kurup, featuring one of India’s most wanted criminals, Sukumara Kurup, glorify criminals and their crimes. The way these criminals are portrayed tends to gradually desensitise viewers to the horrific crimes they commit and risks trivialising the crimes.

Crime shows focus more on the killer and their crimes, and the victims are often left in the shadows. The craze for these killers goes to the extent that Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have fan pages. Some people find these men attractive because of their appearance, and they end up glamourizing the crime to the point where the barbarism of the crime is forgotten. So, does this mean that there will gradually be a negative influence on everyone who watches crime shows?

Psychologist Karnad assures that watching crime shows alone cannot lead to criminal behaviour. "The two very important factors that could lead to crimes are the environment and genetics. If a person lacks empathy, impulsivity, or rationality, or is mentally unstable or ill, they are more likely to be influenced by these shows. Further, people who have witnessed abuse or have been victims themselves are more likely to act on their anger with abuse or criminal behaviour."

On one hand, shows like these do make us realise that criminals can look absolutely like normal, healthy people, can have a charming persona, and can even have a personal life, but can still have a cold-blooded monster hidden inside them. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that crime thrillers do influence criminals, people with mental health issues, and those with an unpleasant past to commit heinous crimes and try to get away with them.

So, there should be an ethical line that creators of crime shows should not cross. Makers need to take responsibility for portraying these criminals in a negative light so that people only gain awareness or get entertained by crime shows rather than being influenced in the wrong way.

Suggested Reading: Crimes Against Women In 2022: Women’s Commission Received 30,000 Complaints