TRUE CRIME AND SOCIAL REALITY: INTEGRATING CULTIVATION THEORY AND PERCEIVED REALISM IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA RESEARCH

Abstract

This study examines how exposure to dramatized crime media shapes perceptions of social reality in contemporary media environments, extending Cultivation Theory by integrating perceived realism as a psychological mechanism to test modern viewing behaviors. This study used a cross-sectional online survey of University of Oklahoma students (N = 482–498), investigating the relationships between crime drama exposure and four key outcomes: perceived severity of crime, fear of crime, trust in legal institutions, and punitive policy preferences. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that greater exposure to crime dramas significantly predicted higher perceived severity of crime, increased fear of crime, stronger support for punitive policies, and decreased trust in legal institutions. Mediation analyses demonstrated that perceived realism significantly mediated all relationships, indicating that media effects occur primarily when audiences interpret dramatized content as reflective of real life. Moderation analyses showed that binge-watching intensity consistently strengthened these relationships, while prior victimization moderated only fear of crime. Contrary to expectations, algorithmic personalization did not significantly moderate any effects. These findings contribute to media effects research by identifying perceived realism as a key mechanism underlying cultivation processes and highlighting the role of modern media consumption patterns in amplifying these effects. The study underscores the importance of media literacy in mitigating distorted perceptions of crime and justice in a streaming-dominated media landscape.