I suffer from a serious addiction. Crime shows. Law & Order SVU, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, The Closer, Lie To Me- You name it, I've seen it. These TV shows arguably are a complete waste of time. These TV shows arguably are educational programming.
I regularly "Stumble". I visit www.stumbleupon.com and select the category of Psychology. The website delivers me to random website related to the field. This morning I Stumbled Upon The Forensic Psychology Dictionary. I scrolled down the page, skimming through the terms. I realized that I already knew many of the definitions.
LEADING QUESTIONS - questions asked during an investigation that are worded in such a manner that will suggest specific answers. This sort of questioning should be avoided and may become inadmissible in a court case.
This always happens in Law & Order.
MODUS OPERANDI (MO) - The offenders actions during an offense. This is variable behaviour that evolves over multiple acts due to offender sophistication and confident.
"MO" is discussed in every single crime show. Usually more than once.
SIGNATURE - the repetitive ritualistic behaviour of a serial offender. This is typically apparent at every crime scene and has little-to-nothing to do with the perpetration of the crime.
My favorite phrase of Criminal Minds!
I'm impressed. I understand some of these complex concepts. My addiction to crime shows isn't just a complete waste of time. I'm learning. I'm enhancing my knowledge. If I read through the unfamiliar terms, I will learn even more as I watch my favorite shows.
Television shows are still a waste of time. I could be reading. I could be volunteering. But sometimes, I just need a break. Luckily, during my breaks, I can still expand my knowledge! Psychology exists on television. Forensic psychology exists on crime shows.
If you're a crime show addict like me, visit the dictionary. I'm positive that you will understand many of the terms without having to read the definitions.
Except you don't like CSI...problem. You could continue learning if you watched that show AND it would solve the problem you hit at the end of the week when you have nothing to watch because you've already seen it all. ANYWAYS! This is a great point that many people (cough, cough, parents) don't realize. I can still learn things from TV. Whether is psychological lingo or how not to act when you go somewhere, TV shows have educational value.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty awesome! I do try to fill my time by doing something more "worthwhile," but you've made me realize that TV isn't ALWAYS bad...just sometimes haha
ReplyDeleteNothing is ever black and white. All TV shows aren't bad. I'm not saying that somehow there's anything i can learn of value in Jersey Shore (except maybe how not to look in public), but some of it can provide good information.
ReplyDeleteSandra!! I'm a die hard fan of those shows as well! Do you watch Dexter? I know it might a little different than what you listed but it's a great crime show. Once, I was so obsessed with season 3 that I watched it in 3 days and of course, I got my internet slowed down due to bandwidth usage. Story of my life! It's really cool how you broke down psychological terms and applied to what you saw on TV. See, parents might say that TV is useless but it's actually very useful :)
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you Sandra. I could watch Law and Order SVU for 12 hours straight during marathons and not even think twice about it (that is, until someone yells at me for hogging the tv!) It's more educational than "reality" tv! Great post, thanks for making me realize it isn't a waste of my time either =]
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