1.5 Flashcards
What is 1.5?
Explain the impact of media representation on the public perception of crime
Describe the origin of the term moral panic
Moral panic is excessive public fear/panic over potential threats to societal moral values.
First introduced by Leslie Wilkins as the “deviance amplification spiral” and was later built upon by Stan Cohen in his book “Folk devils and Moral Panics”
Example of a moral panic?
Mods and Rockers in 1960s.
Press exaggerated the issue and led to different viewpoints within society.
Outcomes of moral panic?
Changes in public concerns and attitudes, peoples perceptions of crime trends, and stereotypes.
What was the outcome of the Mods and Rockets case?
Led to Stan Cohens book.
He disguised himself as three different roles during the moral panic, the youth, the magistrates, and the paper. He found that each category had different viewpoints on the situation and how badly the press exaggerated the issue.
Describe the changes in public concerns and attitudes.
The strong reaction from the public due to moral panic leads to the police taking action in order to appease them.
Describe the affect media can have on people’s perceptions of crime trends.
Media often exaggerates crimes, and makes it seem like they are more common than they actually are.
E.g knife crime
Describe stereotypes as an outcome of media impact on the public perception of crime.
Stereotypes are often made/ increase by the media. The media can make it seem like certain groups of people are more likely to commit crimes than others. Leads to unfair biases and unnecessary fear.
Describe change in priorities and emphasis as another impact of the affect of media on the public perception of crime.
When the police are faced with a moral panic they have a new urgency to change/prevent the issue from worsening.
This happens usually because of an emphasis on a certain crime in media.
