If torture is wrong, what about 24?”: torture and the Hollywood effect

Since 9/11, entertainment media has focused on depictions of terrorism and counterterrorism. How do dramatic depictions of counterterrorism practices—specifically torture—affect public opinion and policy? Using a mixed within-subjects and between-subjects experimental design, we examine how framing...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kearns, Erin M. (Author)
Contributors: Young, Joseph K. (Other)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2018
In: Crime & delinquency
Year: 2018, Volume: 64, Issue: 12, Pages: 1568-1589
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Media
Violence
Public opinion
Counterterrorism
Torture
Folter
Terrorismus
Terrorismusbekämpfung
Medien
Öffentliche Meinung
Description
Summary:Since 9/11, entertainment media has focused on depictions of terrorism and counterterrorism. How do dramatic depictions of counterterrorism practices—specifically torture—affect public opinion and policy? Using a mixed within-subjects and between-subjects experimental design, we examine how framing affects support for torture. Participants (n = 150) were randomly assigned to a condition for dramatic depictions showing torture as (a) effective, (b) ineffective, or (c) not present (control). Participants who saw torture as effective increased their stated support for it. Participants who saw torture—regardless of whether or not it was effective—were more likely to sign a petition on torture. We discuss the policy implications of our findings on how framing affects opinion and action regarding torture.
ISSN:1552-387X
DOI:10.1177/0011128717738230