The Media And Youth Deviance (amplification And Moral Panics)

Question 1

What is the deviancy application theory/ spiral?

Answer 1

1) ‘deviant’ act occurs 2) the media publishes the story and exaggerates it 3) people read it 4) the deviants are seen as folk devils and stereotyping and labelling occurs 5) public concern grows. 6) law and order respond e.g. police arrest more 7) moral panic begins and the self fulfilling prophecy occurs 8) consequences occur e.g. people are fearful and deviants are judged and isolated

Question 2

AO1 research by Cohen on Mods and Rockers

AO3

Answer 2

• mods and rockers were rival youth subcultures
• the media covered violence/ conflict that happened between them and exaggerated the story
• deviancy amplification occurred and labelling and moral panic happens
• this led to police arresting more people and young people wanting to identify as a mod or rocker to feel a sense of identity

(-) Young criticises the idea that the media creat ‘moral panic’ as he states the youth groups must have been deviant in the first place to get their label (so not entirely media’s fault)

Question 3

AO1 for Redhead’s research on rave subculture

Answer 3

• the mass media presented rave subculture as being involved with illegal drug use
• this resulted in moral panic
• police stopped these raves and fined people who started the raves
• moral panic amplified as the publicity for raves increase their popularity (e.g. criminals went to raves as they were a good place to commit crimes like theft and selling drugs)