The effect of television programs on fear of crime victimization in the context of cultivation theory: "The Gaziantep example"

Fear is an emotion that individuals feel in situations that carry elements of danger, while the fear of being a crime victim is defined as the emotion that individuals feel towards crime or symbols that they associate with crime, along with the increase in crime rates. The fear of being a crime victim that individuals feel increases in modern societies, especially with the widespread use of mass media and the active presentation of images containing crime and violence. The fear that individuals feel ceases to be individual and spreads to a social area, creating an environment of insecurity in society. This situation increases the fear felt, as well as causing a decrease in interaction between individuals in society, alienation of individuals from each other and deterioration of social welfare. Therefore, it is important to research and study it. In this context, this study examines the effect of criminal reality/crime programs broadcast on television on the fear of being a crime victim within the framework of cultivation theory. The study aims to examine the effect of criminal reality/crime programs broadcast on television in Turkey on the fear of being a crime victim, individuals' perceptions of social reality and risk, using George Gerbner's Cultural Indicators and Cultivation theory. In line with this purpose, in this field study conducted in Gaziantep, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted using semi-structured question tools with 20 women aged 18-30 and 50 and above who watched the programs "Müge Anlı ile Tatlı Sert" and "Esra Erol'da" using the purposeful sampling technique and qualitative research methods. As a result of the analysis of the collected data, it was observed that television programs affected the fear of crime victimization and had a nurturing effect on individuals. In this context, it was found that as the participants' level of exposure to the programs increased, their fear levels increased and they tended to see themselves in a cruel and dangerous world; and that participants in the 50 and above age group feared young people and children more than themselves. In this context, it is thought that the findings obtained will contribute to the literature.