Chapter 1/Tutorial

Question 1

Goode and Ben Yehuda describe 3 theories why moral panics emerge?

Answer 1

Grass roots model: Fabricated stories passed on by word of mouth, adds fuel to an issue of social unrest in general public
Elite engineered model: orchestrated by political, economic, and other powerful elites through their control of the major institutions of society
Interest group theory: suggests interest groups such as media, politicians, professional groups, and religious organizations may act independently rather than in consort with one another. believe they are acting in best interest of society.

Question 2

Crime Comics

Answer 2

• In 1940s, Canadian government passed a law made it illegal to “make, print, publish, distribute or sell a crime comic”
• Section 163 of Criminal Code
• Back then, it was believed that crime “comics would increase psychopathology among young people” (Steeves & Milford, 2015)

Question 3

The Problem Frame

Answer 3

a) is a narrative that is easily understood
b) focuses on something extraordinarily “bad,” affects many people
c) calls out for solution to the ‘problem,” to be provided by police, government

• Problem frame for Columbine focused on exceptionally “bad” nature of school shootings, the “horror” that was generated in the community/ across the nation, and identified violent video games as “the cause”
• US government responded by legislating label/content warnings for media content

Question 4

Folk Devils and Moral Panics

Answer 4

• Stanley Cohen explored relationship between media and moral panics in 1972 book, Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Origins of the Mods and Rockers
• Cohen identified the media as crucial factor in stirring up moral panics
• According to Cohen, when there is no news to report, media engage in muck-racking and moral entrepreneurship (searching out social “problems to sensationalize)
o “Look what the government is doing, it should be fixing ___ etc…..”

Question 5

Moral Entrepreneurs

Answer 5

top members of society, telling media to pick on someone else, while they’re hiding something bad

Question 6

Policing the Crisis

Answer 6

• Title of 1978 book, by Stuart Hall, Chas Critcher, Tony Jefferson, John Clarke and Brian Roberts
• Book was about “mugging, the state and law and order”; built upon Cohen’s work on folk devils and moral panics
• Supposedly “new” crime of “mugging” became subject of intense media reporting in UK
• More police resources devoted to catching “muggers,” results in increase in arrests, which judges believe they need stiffer sentences

Question 7

Goode and Ben-Yehuda

Answer 7

Researched what a moral panic is, came up with the 5 criteria of a moral panic, and described 3 theories as to why they occur

Question 8

5 Criteria of a Moral Panic

Answer 8

o Something is defined as a threat to values
o Threat is depicted in easily recognizable form by media
o Rapid build up of public concern
o Response from authorities or opinion makers
o Panic Results in social changes