Lecture 3

Question 1

Moral Panic

Answer 1

Refers to antisocial and criminal behaviour. It is an exaggerated reaction from the media, police, and public to the activities of a particular social group.

Question 2

What do you need to start moral panic?

Answer 2

All you need is a narrative that media producers find compelling.

Question 3

What does moral panic lead to?

Answer 3

This leads to an increase in general anxiety and concern over what is represented in the media.

Question 4

Overreaction in moral panic leads to…

Answer 4

Magnification of the original concern.

Question 5

Moral panic leads to social group being viewed as ___ ___.

Answer 5

Folk devils.

Question 6

Folk Devils

Answer 6

Demonized group or individual, and is the central phenomenon of a moral panic.

Question 7

Moral panic extends blame to…

Answer 7

Not only internet pedophiles, but also extended to ISP’s, commercial bodies, and police.

Question 8

Satanic Ritual Abuse

Answer 8

Extreme physical and sexual abuse of children by devil worshipping satanist networks. Drinking blood, eating feces, impregnating victims so babies can be used for sacrifice.

Question 9

Satanic Ritual Abuse Scandal

Answer 9

• Michelle Remembers is a book about how Michelle was abused in her childhood.
  
  • However, this whole book was found to be fabricated.
  • Hoax turned out to be moral panic.
  • People brought up accusations of satanic ritual abuse that were false.

Question 10

True or false? The vast majority of satanic abuse cases never happened.

Answer 10

True.

Question 11

What triggered the nationwide crusade against satanic abuse?

Answer 11

Moral panic.

Question 12

What happened to the standard of proof during the nationwide crusade against satanic abuse?

Answer 12

Proof became construed as coerced confessions and ambiguous behaviours by the alleged victims and abusers.

Question 13

Volatility element of moral panic:

Answer 13

• Sudden eruption and subsiding of a concern of a newly perceived threat to society.
• Threat comes from media portrayal of moral deviance.

Question 14

Hostility element of moral panic:

Answer 14

These deviants are enemies of the basic values of society. Attributed to evil, morally corrupt behaviour.

Question 15

Measurable Concern element of moral panic:

Answer 15

Concern of the public is measurable in concrete ways (i.e. surveys).

Question 16

Consensus element of moral panic:

Answer 16

Significant portion of the population needs to consider it a serious threat.

Question 17

What is the most important element of moral panic?

Answer 17

Disproportionality.

Question 18

Disproportionality element of moral panic:

Answer 18

Takes issues way overboard. Concern about the numbers of moral deviance, and the extent of the harm they can do is exaggerated.

Question 19

Disproportionality element of moral panic:

Answer 19

Takes issues way overboard. Concern about the numbers of moral deviance, and the extent of the harm they can do is exaggerated.

Question 20

Moral Panic full definition:

Answer 20

A moral panic is a form of collective behaviour characterized by suddenly increased concern and hostility in a significant segment of society in reaction to widespread beliefs about a newly perceived threat that is over exaggerated.

Question 21

Consequences of moral panic:

Answer 21

• Social movements aimed at eliminating deviance.

- Generate moral crusades and political struggles to use law to suppress these things.

Question 22

What does the Rape on Campus scandal prompt us to question?

Answer 22

Does the moral panic hysteria match the information provided?

Question 23

Media

Answer 23

Any form of communication that targets an audience in print or electronic format.

Question 24

Why is media important?

Answer 24

Defines social problems, shapes public debates.

Question 25

What are the two approaches to studying the impact of media?

Answer 25

Administrative and critical.

Question 26

Administrative approach to studying media:

Answer 26

Similar to the objectivist viewpoint of deviance. Studies the effects of media on individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Who says what to whom, and to what effects.

Question 27

Examples of administrative approach to studying media:

Answer 27

Advertising.

Question 28

Emotional advertisements must evoke ___ feelings.

Answer 28

Positive.

Question 29

What is a new form of advertisement?

Answer 29

Product placement.

Question 30

There is a ___ statistical correlation that is statistically significant between media violence and aggression.

Answer 30

Small.

Question 31

Media Framing

Answer 31

The overall picture of how an issue is depicted in the media. It affects what we think about a particular topic and come to understand social issues.

Question 32

Media frames of ethnic minorities:

Answer 32

• That they are invisible.
• Stereotypes.
• As social problems.
• Adornment or decoration.
• White-washed.

Question 33

Feminine frames presented by media:

Answer 33

• Feminine touch.
• Ritualization of subordination.
• Licensed withdrawal.
• Infantilization.

Question 34

Feminine Touch

Answer 34

Touching in a delicate, soft manner. Bent hand and bent wrists. Light pressing of skin.

Question 35

Ritualization of Subordination

Answer 35

• Power roles. Person on top is superior. Person placed lower in the frame is portrayed as subordinate.
• Bent knees, tilted head, childish stance.

Question 36

Licensed Withdrawal

Answer 36

• Women are portrayed as psychologically removed from situation. They have to rely on others. Averted gaze.
• Fear or uneasiness.
• Hands and fingers cover face.

Question 37

Infantilization

Answer 37

Made to seem like a child.

Question 38

Does violence and sex actually sell?

Answer 38

• People are attuned to cues like sex and violence, but these cues are at the expense of other cues.
• Violent media impairs brand recognition. Focus is on violence, not on product they sell us.

Question 39

What type of advertisers are the only ones that do not understand that sex and violence does not sell?

Answer 39

Alcohol.

Question 40

Advertisements are most effective when…

Answer 40

They sell an experience or a story.