Role of media in deviance amplification , moral panic

Question 1

Moral panic studies

Answer 1

Cohen
Thornton
Furedi
McRobbie

Question 2

deviancy amplification spiral

Answer 2

Wilkens

Question 3

sociological perspective of deviancy application

Answer 3

Marxist explanations- Miller and Reilly

neo - Marxism- Hall et al

Interactions - Becker

evaluations -
Waiton
Cohen

Question 4

Cohen

Answer 4

moral panic

oral panics ‘a situation where an individual or group is: Labelled by the media, Defined as a threat to society’s values, Presented in a stereotypical fashion, Made a target by the local authorities.

Question 5

Thornton

Answer 5

moral panic

studies ravers in the 90s

moral panic surrounding Ravers and drug taking. Thornton did an ethnography and discovered that the reality of the situation was very different to what was being presented in the media.

e.g leah Betts

Question 6

Furedi

Answer 6

Moral panic

moral panics arise when society fails to adapt to dramatic social changes and feel that there is a loss of control, particularly over youth.reflect wider concerns that the older generation hold about the nature of society.

The older generation believe the media is responsible for the loss of traditional norms and values

Question 7

McRobbie

Answer 7

Moral Panic

believes moral panics are a means of social control but argues that because there are so many of them now, their effect has changed. Moral panics are no longer about social control but rather about the fear of being out of control.

Question 8

Marxist explanation of moral panic

Answer 8

sociolgical perspective

moral panics are a form of social control to support capitalism. They state the the role of the media is to distract people. The masses are being distracted from thinking about their own situations / inequality they may face.

This prevents people from being questioning etc which in turn prevents a revolution from occurring. This means that the ruling class then stay in a position of power.

Question 9

Miller and reilly

Answer 9

Marixst

moral panics ‘soften up’ public opinions on issues, so that people are prepared to accept repressive social controls (new laws, for example) as ‘solutions to particular problems’. They argue that this is a way of the ruling class gaining more control over the masses.

Question 10

neo Marxists

hall et al

Answer 10

sociologucal perspectives

moral panics benefit capitalism – they argue that the ruling class defines what is ‘deviance’, and therefore decide who the ‘folk devils’ are.

They state that this has been applied to young, black, working class males with the aim of causing a division amongst the white and black working class. By preventing unification… this stops a revolution as the masses will not unite

Question 11

interactionist explanations

Answer 11

sociolgical perspective

Closely examine the process of labelling – They state that certain labels can lead to some social groups becoming victimised as criminals and deviants.

certain social groups being more likely to be deviant the police are more likely to target these groups. They are also more likely to be more harshly sentenced during convictions. This refers to the idea that self-fulfilling prophecies can occur.

Question 12

Becker

Answer 12

interactionist

application of a label frequently has the effect of ‘confirming the individual’ as deviant, both to themselves and others (teachers, employers, audiences of the media). This may block off participation in ‘normal society’ (a criminal, for example, may be unable to find legal work), which, in turn, means the deviant seeks out the company of similar deviants, resulting in increased involvement in deviant behaviour.

Question 13

evalution

Answer 13

waiton

Question 14

waiton

Answer 14

evaluation

moral panics are less likely to occur because societies no-longer have a strong central moral code shared by most of the population - Meaning we have no morals to threaten!

Question 15

Wilkins

Answer 15

deviancy amplification spiral

1) a deviant act is committed. ( criminal act or agaisnt society norms and vaules)
2) a problem group is identified known as a folk devils - report of the deviant behaviour is sensationalsied
3) a public desire to be ‘kept informed’
4) public glamorises the deviant behaviour ( makes it attractive to some , therefore more engage in the behaviour)
5)
moral panic develops and public concern emerges about the real or exaggerated “threat”. Reporting in the media continues and demands for action occurs. Law enforcement focuses on the “threat” and pressure for harsher punishments occurs.
6)
public feel their fear is justified and moral panic is reinforces.
7)The media profits more from the whole spiral and continues to report the deviance.

cycle then goes around again