Contributors: Olivia Sands; Kharla Ramos
Media—especially social media—plays a powerful role in shaping how society views mental illness and criminal behavior. On one hand, these platforms often perpetuate stigma, casting mental illness in a negative or fearful light. On the other, they sometimes romanticize or oversimplify serious conditions, creating confusion and spreading misinformation. Trends like self-diagnosis and repeated exposure to violent or disturbing content can worsen mental health challenges, dull emotional sensitivity, and even contribute to increased aggression over time. In fact, early and consistent exposure to violent media in childhood has been linked to greater likelihood of aggressive or criminal behavior later in life.
At the same time, childhood trauma remains a critical factor in shaping emotional and behavioral outcomes. Early experiences of abuse, neglect, or instability can deeply impact a person’s ability to regulate emotions, trust others, and make safe choices. Many who experience trauma become hypervigilant, isolated, or disconnected, and may turn to harmful coping mechanisms like substance use or unhealthy peer relationships. Combined with challenges like poverty or educational disadvantage, these patterns can create conditions where criminal behavior becomes more likely.
Together, the influence of media and the long shadow of childhood trauma reveal how layered and interconnected the roots of harmful behavior can be. Understanding this complexity not only helps dismantle harmful stereotypes—it also points to the need for compassion, accurate representation, and trauma-informed approaches that support healing and prevention.
The media negatively affects the public’s perception of criminal cases and behaviors, in part by stigmatizing mental illness
Social media significantly shapes perceptions of mental illness. On platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, mental illnesses are often both romanticized and stigmatized, creating a complex and problematic narrative. You'll find videos claiming to help "diagnose" people. Self-diagnosis isn't necessarily wrong, but it can be incomplete or inaccurate without the expertise of a medical professional. "In other words, as much as it is okay to not be okay, it is also okay to be okay." Exposure to certain types of media can also exacerbate mental illness. Vulnerable individuals who are at higher risk of developing mental illnesses and remain undiagnosed are particularly susceptible to being drawn in by certain types of media content. Studies suggest that "the introduction of the social media platform may have contributed to more than 300,000 new cases of depression." Additionally, the pandemic exacerbated these challenges, as people faced isolation, grief, and an overwhelming exposure to mortality.
The stigmatization of mental illness by society (with the internet as an outlet to do so on a mass scale) can lead those who are struggling into cycles of shame and self-loathing. Mental health struggles become internalized and surface themselves through disordered behaviors. The immense amount of violent and criminal content available (often being romanticized and/or normalized) to users too influences individuals who are predisposed to violence/crime. Studies show that there are "negative effects related to watching violent or aggressive behavior on TV. They do not necessarily indicate a direct cause-and-effect relationship." Exposure to these kinds of media "enhances the risk" that the person watching is more likely to engage in aggressive behavior. However, children that are exposed to violence on TV are subject to these traits. "Children may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. Children may be more fearful of the world around them. Children may be more likely to behave in aggressive or harmful ways toward others." This desentization can lead to violence in adolescence and adulthood. Research by psychologists L. Rowell Huesmann, Leonard Eron, and others starting in the 1980s found that children who watched many hours of violence on television when they were in elementary school tended to show higher levels of aggressive behavior when they became teenagers. By observing these participants into adulthood, Huesmann and Eron found that the ones who'd watched a lot of TV violence when they were 8 years old were more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts as adults."
Childhood trauma influences the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior in adulthood
Childhood trauma significantly influences the likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior later in life through its profound impact on emotional regulation, social interactions, and decision-making. Trauma often triggers a persistent heightened state of alertness, known as hypervigilance, which can lead to overreactions to perceived threats. This heightened fight-or-flight response increases the likelihood of aggressive or defensive behaviors, contributing to conflict and criminal acts. Additionally, trauma, especially when caused by abusive authority figures, fosters distrust toward authority and societal rules. This distrust can manifest as rebellious behavior, disregard for laws, or outright opposition to societal norms. Many individuals with traumatic backgrounds struggle with low self-esteem and a negative self-image, often feeling worthless or ashamed. These emotional struggles can lead to self-destructive choices, such as substance abuse or criminal acts as a way of "acting out." Childhood trauma frequently correlates with social and economic stressors like poverty and unstable living conditions, which limit access to education, resources, and stable housing. These limitations increase the risk of criminal behavior, often as a means of survival. Traumatized individuals may also gravitate toward negative peer groups, seeking validation or understanding from others with similar experiences. Such associations often reinforce antisocial behaviors and expose individuals to criminal activities. Substance abuse is another common coping mechanism for trauma survivors, increasing the likelihood of criminal behavior directly, such as possession or distribution, and indirectly, through impaired judgment or risky decisions. Furthermore, trauma often creates a cycle of victimization and violence, where survivors are at higher risk of becoming either perpetrators or victims of violence themselves. This cycle perpetuates patterns of criminal behavior, which are difficult to break without intervention.
Cognitively, trauma can impair concentration, memory, and decision-making, negatively impacting academic performance and leading to fewer opportunities for stable employment. This lack of opportunity may push individuals toward criminal activities for financial survival. Trauma also frequently leads to mental health disorders, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which contribute to impulsivity, poor decision-making, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships, further increasing the risk of criminal behavior. Finally, childhood trauma can perpetuate an intergenerational cycle, as survivors may inadvertently pass on unhealthy coping mechanisms and behaviors to their children, creating patterns of criminal behavior that persist across generations unless addressed through support and intervention.
Conclusion
Media and broader social influences play a significant role in shaping how mental health and criminal behavior are understood—and misunderstood. On platforms like social media, mental illness is often either stigmatized or romanticized, leading to harmful misconceptions that can deepen existing struggles, especially for those already vulnerable. Early exposure to violent content also leaves a mark; patterns show that consuming such media during childhood can contribute to increased aggression and a higher risk of harmful behavior later in life.
These influences don’t exist in isolation. Childhood trauma, too, has lasting effects—disrupting a person’s ability to regulate emotions, connect with others, and navigate the world safely. The combination of media impact and unresolved trauma can trap individuals in cycles of alienation, destructive choices, and social misunderstanding.
Breaking these cycles calls for a wide-reaching response. That means encouraging more thoughtful and accurate portrayals of mental health in media, expanding trauma-informed care, and promoting a deeper societal understanding of the complex roots of behavior. Through these efforts, communities can begin to address the harm and move toward greater healing, empathy, and equity.
References
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