Moral panic's Flashcards
(28 cards)
contemporary evidence
2011 London Riots
why were the 2011 London Riots a moral panic
media created fear , “everyone be afraid of these riots’ , Chinese whispers
what caused the 2011 London Riots - moral panic
- caused by the shooting of Mark Duggeon (black man , shot by police)
- people became scared of w/c white men
- media then created this fear factor
- lots of old people scared for their positions
role of media in London riots 2011
- newspapers like the Daily Express portrayed young people as “folk devils”
- blaming youth criminality and poor parenting for the unrest
- exaggerated the severity of the disorder, describing it as “war” and “mass murder”
- reinforcing the idea that young people posed a serious threat to society
effect of 2011 london riots
led to heightened public anxiety and demands for harsher policing and punishment.
some reports argued that the London riots were
- not simply a result of moral decline, but rather a consequence of deprivation and poor policing.
- Structural issues such as poverty, inequality, and tensions between communities and law enforcement played a significant role in the unrest
moral panics steps (deviance amplificati9on spiral)
1) media presents a distorted view of a level of crime
2) distorted view creates public concern
3) related pieces of crime & deviance over-reported & given prominence than otherwise would have
4) this keeps the issue high in public agenda
5) The police want something done about the problem
6) The police more aware/sensitive to the problem, so they discourage crime
folk devils
urban legend
-when moral panics start , they have a ring of truth
- but then they become overblown
callig something a moral panic does not…
imply that this something does not exist
what are folk devils
The group / individuals blamed for the social problem , often unfairly demonised
Cohen’s study
- to undertstand modern media’s role in creating fear around issues
mods and rockers of the 1960’s (example of moral panic)
role of media in moral panics
Amplifies evidence by sensationalising events , leading to greater public anxiety & pressure for social control
Deviando amplification spiral - what is it
The process where increased media attention leads to harsher responses for authority which can escalate the behaviour they seek to suppress
moral panic can lead to
- new laws
- stricter regulations
- increased policing to control the perceived threat
who introduced the concept of moral panic
Stanley Cohen
Mods and Rockers in 1960s Britain
- These youth subcultures were portrayed by the media as violent and disruptive, despite the actual incidents being relatively minor.
-The media’s sensationalised reporting led to public fear and increased policing of these groups.
Why Moral Panics Could Be Considered Less Common?
The diversity of media sources.
- With the rise of social media and independent journalism, people have access to multiple perspectives, which can challenge the dominant narrative and reduce the likelihood of a single, exaggerated story gaining traction
Why Moral Panics Could Be Considered More Common
- due to the speed and reach of digital media.
- Social media platforms can amplify fears rapidly, with misinformation or sensationalised content spreading widely before it can be fact-checked.
Selection and Presentation of the News in moral panic
plays a crucial role
- Editors and journalists act as “gatekeepers,” deciding which stories to highlight based on factors like news values (e.g., drama, conflict) and organizational constraints
- This selective process can shape public perception and contribute to the creation of moral panics.
Agenda-setting refers to the media’s ability to
- select subjects for public discussion
- gives the main news media a great deal of power in telling people what to think about.
- tell us how we should think about some subjects, such as the way we perceive politicians or welfare benefit claimants
Media news represents a
biased and partial view of the world, which is mainly concerned with protecting the interests of the most powerful groups in society.
most contemporary evidence
- “vaping among school children has become a moral panic in Britain” (economic article)
- adolescence , social media & the manosphere
Original case of moral panic
- James Bulger case
- abducted by 2 10y/o boys
- according to the press they were mimicking behaviours from “child’s play III”
Effects of James Bulger moral panics
the sun newspapers tried to get other violent films banned , such as films refered to as ‘video nasties’
- introduction of age limits on vi9olent video games and movies
