Crime as a Social Construct Class 1

Administrative Quizzes returned at the end of class

Review Neither the public nor criminal justice professionals have very much knowledge of criminology The media and the government give us distorted images of crime although they don’t do so deliberately Opinions are not appropriate for empirical questions where we can get empirical answers

Today I. Meaning of social constructs II. What is a myth? III. Media as mythmaker IV. Government as mythmaker V. Techniques of myth construction

I. Meaning of Social Constructs Are there social constructs in addition to crime? Some social constructions are obvious Some less obvious Social construction of different groups

II. What is a Myth? Nature of myths How do myths originate? How are myths perpetuated? Can myths be challenged?

III. Media as Mythmaker How do the media create crime myths? What is the impact on the public?

IV. Government as Mythmaker Why and how does the government create crime myths? What is the effect on the public?

V. Techniques of Myth Construction How do myths, especially crime myths come about? We should be suspicious about assertions of serious crime problems in the absence of empirical studies

Next Time Techniques of myth construction History of crime and criminals