...6/8/12 What are moral panics? What are 'moral panics'? Hayley Burns If we do not take steps to preserve the purity of blood, the Jew will destroy civilisation by poisoning us all. (Hitler, 1938) Surely if the human race is under threat, it is entirely reasonable to segregate AIDS victims, otherwise the whole of mankind could be engulfed. (The Daily Star, 2 December 1988) Although an extreme illustration, the above quotes serve to set up the creation of a 'moral panic'. Just as Hitler's 'facts' were unfounded, so too were The Daily Star and what resulted from both incidents was, in effect, the persecution of two minority groups within society. Hitler's quote stemmed from the use of propaganda, and although it would be fair to say that the essence of what is termed 'propaganda' does not exist in such a force today, it is nevertheless evident that what was quoted from The Daily Star is tantamount to propaganda. Throughout history, the mass media industry has been utilised as a tool to appeal to the public at large, particularly in the field of politics, where people in a position of power can tempt society into believing what they want them to believe. As Eldridge describes "The media, wittingly or unwittingly, reproduce the definitions of the powerful." [Eldridge 1997: 65] This document will examine not only the essence and origin of the term 'moral panic' but the very important nature of the media's involvement in the whole process of creating a 'moral panic'. It was Stanley...
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...Young (2011) indicates that mass media plays a vital role in moral panic situations. The three criteria that Young (2011) suggests to be central to moral panic include; the propagating and circulating of stereotypical images of deviance, reinforcing and building on people’s feelings of alarm and propelling or engaging in deviance amplification. A clear example of a moral panic that fits Young’s three criteria is the concept of ‘Islamophobia’. ‘Islamophobia’ is a broad term that allows for prejudice, hatred and fear toward Islam (Morgan 2014). This moral panic has resulted in distress for many Muslims who have been brushed with criminality and terrorist labels especially after the repercussion of 9/11 (Collins 2005). It is evident that following on from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Islamic and Muslim culture has been a target in media speculation and have somewhat become ‘folk devils’ with many becoming subject to demonisation (Tottoli...
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...Challenge: Select and describe a “moral panic” against a perceived deviance. Analyse the role of the “moral entrepreneur” and “folk devil” in your selected case. Finally, explicate what it demonstrates about individuals and their socialization. (Length: 2 000 words) Societies tend to view the youth as the future and hope of a nation. To a certain extent, societies observe the behaviours and potential of the young people to ‘estimate’ the political and socio-economic future of a nation. When there is what societies view as a deviance from the norm when in it comes to young people – often there is what is viewed as a ‘moral panic’. I will be looking at the ‘moral panic’ of youth crime or juvenile delinquency, the role of its ‘moral entrepreneurs’ and ‘folk devils’ and what it demonstrates about individuals and their socialization. Over the centuries there has been numerous Moral Panics. With moral Panics come moral entrepreneurs, and folk devils which entice and fuel the moral panic thus influencing society and creating exaggerated panic. Moral Panic A moral panic may be defined as an episode, often triggered by alarming media stories and reinforced by reactive laws and public policy, of exaggerated or misdirected public concern, anxiety, fear, or anger over a perceived threat to social order. A moral panic refers to the reaction of the public based on a belief that a group poses danger to the society; they discriminate this particular group as a huge threat to their...
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...Moral panic One concept developed by the social sciences to help make sense of such processes is moral panic. This term was explored by Stanley Cohen in the early 1970s: Societies appear to be subject, every now and then, to periods of moral panic. A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; the moral barricades are manned by editors, bishops, politicians and other right thinking people; socially accredited experts pronounce their diagnoses and solutions, ways of coping are evolved (Cohen, 1973, p. 9) Cohen's study focused on the social reaction to the mods and rockers’ ‘disturbances’ in Clacton on Easter Monday, 1964. Cohen shows how media reaction, to what were in the main small-scale scuffles and vandalism, blew the whole event out of proportion. Newspaper headlines spoke of a ‘Day of Terror’ with Clacton being invaded by a mob ‘hell- bent on destruction’. The media's response served only to whip-up a wider public concern about a breakdown in morality. Cohen described this as a deviancy amplification spiral. The initial outbreak of abnormal behaviour generated an enormous media reaction, in part because it made such a good news story. This in turn forced the police to intervene more strongly in subsequent disturbances, thereby increasing the numbers arrested, and leading to a spiral of increasing police Activity...
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...Australian are deeply affected by sharks or can be said as scared of sharks. Some Australian even think that sharks act as demon in their life(Winton,2013). The recorded number of Australian who were attacked by sharks is 221 and 66 of these are provoked attacks from 1995 to 2014. Also the number of the fatal attacks is only 32(Thomas,2014). This seems not a huge number in 20 years, so why Australian have numerous fear of the sharks? It is a kind of moral panic. As the term moral panic describes, some people or organizations are trying to make others getting intense on an issue. “"Why did God make sharks?" Whenever my kids asked me this I was always tempted to answer, "To sell newspapers." Because that's how it feels sometimes.”(Winton,2013)....
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...Crime and Society – Moral Panics Lecture 07.12.15 Moral panics lecture will cover; the concept of moral panics, some possible reasons behind moral panics, the politics of a moral panic and also look into some moral panics case studies. Cohen (1972) studied ‘Folk Devils and Moral Panics’ and this was known to be the first systematic study of moral panics within Britain. He studied the social disturbance of the mods and rockers in Britain, during Easter Bank Holiday, in Clacton, the Summer of 1964. Groups of working class youths began arriving in Clacton, and this was a traditional holiday meeting place for youths form the East End of London. Facilities for young people were limited at the time, and some café owners, despite the already poor conditions, refused groups of youth’s entry to their establishment. There were minor scuffles, which eventually lead to massive brawls. The media allowed the story to receive front page news throughout the national press. They blew the story way out of proportion. According to Cohen most youths didn’t actually own a motorbike or scooter and had actually got there via train. Rivalry was mainly about regional identity, and argues that the amount of actual serious vandalism and violence, was actually on a small scale. Shortly after events, local journalists admitted the events had actually been over reported. Media outrage had set in motion a chain of responses, which initiated a wider level of public concern. This lead to the police...
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...Assess the view that the media as a cause of crime. (21) There is concern that the media have a negative effect on attitudes, values and behaviour - especially of those susceptible to influence, such as the young, the lower class and the educated. Recently rap lyrics and computer games such as Grand Theft Auto have been criticised for encouraging violence whereas before horror comics and films were held responsible for criminality. According to social learning theory, the media provides deviant role models - resulting in ‘copycat’ behaviour. Ericson et al found that 45-71% of quality press and radio news was about various forms of deviance, whilst Williams and Dickinson found British newspapers devoted 30% of their news space to crime. As crime makes up such a large proportion of the news, it is easy for individuals to imitate the crime or behaviour. Though horror and crime films have age restrictions, the internet makes such films easily accessible to anyone and therefore those at an impressionable age (usually adolescents), are exposed to the violence portrayed in which they then imitate. Sue Palmer argues childhood is becoming toxic and children are committing more ‘adult’ crimes from their exposure to violence on the internet and through films. The murder of Jamie Bulger committed by John Venables and Robert Thompson, has been linked to the boys re-enacting scenes from the film ‘Child’s Play 3’. Similarly, the perpetrators of the Columbine massacre in April 1999 allegedly...
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...A moral panic is a feeling of fear spread among a large number of people that some evil threatens the well-being of society.[1][2] A Dictionary of Sociology defines a moral panic as "the process of arousing social concern over an issue – usually the work of moral entrepreneurs and the mass media."[3] The media are key players in the dissemination of moral indignation, even when they do not appear to be consciously engaged in crusading or muckraking. Simply reporting the facts can be enough to generate concern, anxiety, or panic.[4]:16 Examples include the belief in widespread abduction of children by predatory pedophiles,[5] belief in ritual abuse by satanic cults of women and children,[6] scaremongering of the spread of AIDS,[7] and the War on Drugs.[8] Contents [hide] 1 Use as a social science term 1.1 British vs American 2 Characteristics 3 Examples 3.1 2000s: Human trafficking 3.2 1990s–present: Sex offenders 3.3 1980s–1990s: Satanic ritual abuse 3.4 1980s–1990s: Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 1980s–present: AIDS 3.6 1970s–present: Video games and violence 3.7 1970s–present: Crime increase 3.8 1970s–present: War on drugs 4 Criticism 5 Other 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Use as a social science term[edit] Marshall McLuhan gave the term academic treatment in his book Understanding Media, written in 1964.[9] According to Stanley Cohen, author of a sociological study about youth culture and media called Folk Devils and Moral Panics...
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...Mass Hysteria Mass hysteria is known as uncontrollable outburst of emotion or fear. The idea of mass hysteria has occurred various times throughout the history of the United States. The United States has some major examples of mass hysteria, the outbreak of Ebola in 2014 and the tragic events of 9/11 in 2001. These two incidents left the people in chaos and complete panic, nobody trusted anyone, people were afraid of transit such as planes, trains and busses, ultimately this led to fear across the world. In 2014 the Ebola epidemic had everyone in a panic although very few people were actually contaminated with this deadly disease and most cases were overseas in other countries around Africa. One case was when a woman near the Pentagon fell ill and had vomited in a parking lot, she was quickly isolated and quarantined for multiple hours. This case showed the panic and extreme precautions the government will take when a potential outbreak could occur even though nobody could confirm the lady was truly infected with Ebola. Ebola had the United States in havoc although it was not spreading at all, only a few scandalous cases had occurred leaving the people in complete terror...
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...Carby talks about how people has a “ Moral Panic” when It cam to young black women in the city. This was because they were selling their bodies as if it was a produced. This was very dangerous because there usually was pimp who would make the young women believe that he owned her body and she had to what he told her. Carby beloved that these women were only becoming prostituted because they had no one to protected them. Carby goes on to talk about how this is dangerous because there was no one who is there to help this young female when they get to the city. Carby uses Ellis Island as an example because the immigrant that was coming throw Ellis Island at lest had someone who helping them when they got here. It was one of the conditions of being able to leave the island. McManus is also talking about women but she talking about a different time. This women are white women are travel westward. She goes on and explains different event that women faced. McManus also talks about the intermarriages of negative American...
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...Mass media is an industry that is hard to penetrate. It is often difficult, as an individual, to express your ideologies and beliefs towards a greater audience than those of your current circle of friends and family. Traditional media frequently represents the sentiments and opinions of politicians and celebrities, as opposed to the views of the general public. So, the individuals are able to advocate their voices easier by taking advantage of various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. This act, often referred to as citizen journalism, is used to facilitate the spreading of news particularly towards ‘Gay Marriage’. This process of dissemination is an effective strategy as an effort to communicate their ‘voices being heard’. Now, Twitter, as a media platform, is being used to promote or demote the voices of Gay Marriage. The immediacy and easy format to distribute the message to a widespread audience is its most appealing trait. Many twitter users have dedicated tweets to the possibility of Gay Marriage, whether they are supporters of the lesbian and gay community or highly against the implementation of gay marriage. They utilize the readily available news articles, their own photos, links to videos and hash tags to spread their relevant gay marriage message. Twitter is an excellent platform to send messages to a vast audience. Very often in online news articles or blogs, readers are encouraged to leave their own feedback and comments...
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...Student ID:5145400 SY3 CASE STUDY - True Crime or Moral Panic Crime and deviance is present is all societies and has been throughout generations, and there are differing explanations for their existence through the various sociological approaches. Functionalism views society as a system of connected parts. Emile Durkheim (1982) saw crime in society as a stable system based on value consensus, norms and values which a society has established. Durkheim saw the need for some crime as an inevitable, normal and even necessary part of that system, and although it can disrupt social stability, it also performs some positive functions. One of these positives is boundary maintenance, and how crime produces a reaction from society against the wrong-doer which in turn reinforces their commitment to the value consensus (historylearningsite.co.uk, 2009). Criticisms of Durkheim's view on crime is how he failed to explain how much deviance is needed for society to function, and that just because crime has a function, it doesn't mean society is creating crime for the purpose of that function. Even how this 'necessity' doesn’t feel right for the victims (Jones, 2014). Conflict theories such as Marxism disagree with functionalism about crime being necessary, but instead suggest it is an inequality between the ruling and working class. Although Marx did not talk at length about crime, he did believe that laws were codified. Where one class kept the other classes in check through policing...
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...The media likes to report shocking things that will help them get interest into their article and get people to read it. Newspapers, like the S*n, don’t care how bad a light they paint potentially innocent or unfortunate people in and this can paint a negative light towards a certain race, culture or other things. They are only bothered about money and not people’s feeling and give a biased view towards everything. Most papers are ok though and can give two sides to a story. I found an article from a newspaper website which showed how a Schizophrenic “hacked to death an innocent person with a meat cleaver”. The headline puts Schizophrenics in a bad light because it makes out that they are savages and creates a moral panic. It makes people think all Schizophrenics are capable of murder when infact it’s a very rare one-off incident. It also makes out that they are mentally stable by saying he was “sane” however this is an unrepresentative way to show how a schizophrenic is mentally. It says “he knew exactly what he was doing”. Schizophrenics suffer from hallucinations. A hallucination is when a person experiences a sensation but there is nothing or nobody there to account for it. A hallucination can involve any of the senses, but the most common is hearing voices. This would mean that the person would’ve struggled to understand what is reality and what’s not reality so this statement is false and unfair. As his lawyer described “his reality is nothing like any of you have ever...
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...Article Analysis Moral Panics: Culture, Politics, and Social Construction Introduction: One might heard about threats, warnings and illegal actions that are influencing the society at their peak. No matter which culture an individual is belonged to, the thing that matters is the panic he has been influenced by, through various ways. Such panic is simply termed as moral panic and it has been the cause of cultural conflicts, social disturbances and political issues. Moral panic has been a hot topic of discussion that considered through several different perspectives; emphasizing on this aspect, various scholars and researchers have illustrated the society with the instances of social, culture and political problems and more specifically the moral panics. Cohen (1972) defined moral panic as societal threat whereas Furedi (1994) described moral panics as a threat to happiness and health. Continuing the research in same domain, Goode and Ben-Yehuda also contributed in defining the concept of moral panics in relation to the cultural, social and political problems. Focusing on the broader spectrum presented by Goode and Ben-Yehuda, the given paper has been written. The main aim of the current discussion is to highlight the study or research conducted by Goode and Ben-Yehuda about a specific issue and major public concern that is none other than moral panics. The given paper has been categorized into the following sections in order to develop an understanding what the researchers...
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...potentially consume and destroy the Earth being created by the Large Hadron Collider. This is often the beginning of a phenomenon known as a moral panic unless it proves invalid by the masses or not profitable for institutions or organisations. First coined by Jock Young (1971:37) in his book ‘Images of Deviance’, edited by Stanley Cohen, his peer and colleague. It was Cohen (1973:9) though, in fact, who brought the phrase to the forefront of sociology and defined it when he said: Societies appear to be subject, every now and then, to periods of moral panic. A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylised and stereotypical fashion by the mass media (Cohen 1973:9). This paper assess’ Cohen’s’ ‘moral panic’ as a useful notion for explaining increased social anxiety about criminal behaviour using his work on ‘mods and rockers’ and Wilkins (1964:90) ‘Deviancy Amplification Feedback Loop’, a cyclic process that alienates perpetrators and increases sensitization to their actions creating more frequent arrests and often harsher punishments. Moral panics come and go and more often than not the ‘problem’ has been around for many years before it becomes accepted as a phenomenon that requires attention and reform. Often these moral panics are scapegoats of bigger issues in society (Goode & Ben-Yehuda, 2002:26). Such as Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) in the 1980’s being blamed...
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