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MTV Reality Show Caused Crime Wave: Study

Laguna Beach led to more robberies, rapes, study says

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2010 4:15 PM CDT | Updated Aug 1, 2010 11:02 AM CDT
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(Newser) – MTV's Laguna Beach contributed to a rise in crime in the real Laguna Beach, a new study suggests. Researchers from Occidental College analyzed crime statistics from 2004 to 2006, when the popular reality series was on the air—and perhaps turning the ritzy, gated enclave into a tourist hub. The researchers found that non-residential burglaries and rapes posted steady increases every year the show was on the air, AOL News reports.

Critically, the same crime increases didn't rise in nearby Dana Point, which is similar to Laguna Beach in nearly every demographic. The "Laguna Beach effect" came out to an additional 50 burglaries every month and an extra rape about every three months. The rise is "statistically significant," writes AOL's Paul Kix. "Residents have to wonder if they should have kept their town's doors closed when MTV came calling."

In this image released by Virgin America, actress Kristin Cavallari , best known from the MTV reality series Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County checks out the seat-to-seat in-flight text message system prior to her flight to New York, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Los Angeles International Airport.
In this image released by Virgin America, actress Kristin Cavallari , best known from the MTV reality series "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" checks out the seat-to-seat in-flight text message system...   (AP Photo/Virgin America, Bob Riha, Jr.)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
SuperKron
Aug 2, 2010 12:39 PM CDT
reminds me of the "broken window theory" i read about in Malcom Gladwell's The Tipping Point. It states that if there's a broken window that doesn't get fixed then a chain of events occurs (graffiti tags, muggings occur in the area) that leads it to be a crime hot stop. Is it the show itself or could MTV really produce such hypnotically trashy content that it leads people to more aggresive tendencies?
zaglossus
Jul 30, 2010 1:44 PM CDT
The level of civilization in this country would improve if MTV went off the air.
riffran
Jul 30, 2010 3:55 AM CDT
naa lets NOT blame the shitbags that did the crime...lets blame TV....

 
reality TV • crime • MTV • Laguna Beach

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