Gun Crime

What does sociology have to say about the recent horrific events in Cumbria? It seems to me that this is a time for interdisciplinary studies. If you want to focus on individual motivations, then turn to psychology. Social psychology would suggest that we can look at factors such as bystander effect in order to understand why people in such situations often ‘freeze’ - it’s more than simply fear. And sociology? Sociology can provide us with general theories about criminal behaviour. It seems to me that some of the oldest, indeed simplest ones - the functionalist idea of status frustration, or Marxist theories of alienation, are not as outdated or irrelevant as is often suggested. Sure, sociology has lacked a theory of the individual, but that’s no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater. And other theories shed light too. Control theory - really, truly, we would all do dreadful things if we thought we could get away with it. Discuss. But it’s not a completely daft idea is it?

And of course, finally, when it comes to the media representation of such dreadful events, sociologists have a lot to say. Moral panics. And there’s the media’s inimitable talent to turn tragedy into ‘infotainment’; last night it seemed that no TV channel felt it able to report unless it had a reporter at the scene of the tragic events. To impart a sense of immediacy perhaps? To make us, the audience, feel somehow more connected to the events? Maybe, but also it was intended to dramatise. And there’s the key word. And with drama comes the simplification and reduction of events into simplistic stories which fail to do justice to any of those involved in the events. It’s worth relecting back on Manuel Castells telling criticism of media news - you always have to keep in mind, Castells says, that TV news stations are competing, not just with each other, but with everything else on TV - game shows, sports, soap operas. It’s all about entertainment; about amusing, thrilling and scaring an audience. It’s all showbiz folks.