Week 12 Flashcards
According to Hunt, how does moral regulation differ from moral panic?
Moral regulation focuses on how discourses and practices are deployed to act on the conduct of self and others, maintaining evaluative neutrality, whereas moral panic often involves disproportionate and inappropriate societal reactions to minor conditions.
What is Stanley Cohen’s definition of a moral panic?
A moral panic is an episode where a condition, person, or group of persons is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the media, perceived as a threat to societal values and interests.
How does Alan Hunt critique the tradition of moral panic?
Hunt criticizes moral panic for its tendency to carry negative normative judgments that predetermine analysts’ disapproval of the targeted social issues.
What does Hunt suggest about the disproportionality of reactions in moral panics?
He notes that moral panics often result in responses that are disproportionately severe compared to the actual harm posed by the problematized behavior.
How do moral panics relate to the concepts of surveillance and control?
Moral panics can lead to enhanced surveillance and stricter control measures as society seeks to manage or eliminate perceived threats.
What role do media play in shaping moral panics, according to Silcox?
The media can amplify fears about certain social issues, contributing to the emergence of moral panics by portraying them as more dangerous than they are.
According to Silcox, how can moral panics distort public perceptions of crime?
Moral panics can lead to exaggerated fears that do not align with actual crime statistics, potentially influencing public opinion and policy in ways that are not justified by the facts.
What is the impact of moral panics on policy formation?
Moral panics can result in policy changes that are reactive and may not effectively address the underlying issues, often focusing on punitive measures rather than preventive solutions.
Discuss how moral panics can reflect societal anxieties about cultural changes.
Moral panics often emerge during periods of rapid social change, reflecting anxieties about the erosion of traditional values and the perceived threat of new behaviors or groups.
How do Hunt and Cohen describe the media’s role in the social construction of moral panics?
They argue that the media is instrumental in constructing narratives that define certain behaviors or groups as threats, often exaggerating these aspects to capture public attention.
What are the ethical implications of the media’s involvement in moral panics?
Ethical concerns include the potential for the media to mislead the public, create unnecessary fear, and contribute to social division and stigma against marginalized groups.
How can understanding the dynamics of moral panics help in critically assessing media reports?
By recognizing the features of moral panics, individuals can more critically evaluate media reports and be cautious of sensationalized news that may distort reality.
What strategies can be employed to mitigate the effects of moral panics? (4)
Strategies include promoting media literacy, encouraging critical thinking, fostering open dialogue about societal issues, and ensuring that policy responses are proportionate and based on evidence.
How does the concept of moral regulation provide a framework for understanding social control mechanisms?
Moral regulation helps explain how societies use norms and laws to shape individual behavior, often under the guise of maintaining moral order.
What similarities and differences exist between moral panics and moral regulation in terms of their impact on society?
Both concepts involve social control, but moral panics are typically characterized by heightened emotions and temporary actions, whereas moral regulation involves more sustained efforts to shape conduct.
