The Concept of Moral Panics

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The Concept of Moral Panics A moral panic is said to occur when the media mobilises public opinion around the condemnation of deviance ("Media coverage of deviance: moral panics", lecture handout, 07-10-02). Deviance, in this context, refers to the violation of social norms and values, and the subsequent disruption of social order. This essay will begin with a clarification of the terms 'moral panic' and 'deviance' and outline how the two concepts are related. It will then describe the processes of news reporting while making reference to Stanley Cohen's established case study of the 1964 Bank Holiday fracas in Clacton, England as an example of such a media-fuelled moral panic. As briefly mentioned in the introduction, deviance occurs when people behave in a manner that is contrary to established social norms. In general, people are taught or conditioned to conduct themselves in a 'socially acceptable' manner, and theoretically, this management of peoples' behaviour ensures social cohesion and order. However, a number of questions are raised when one considers 'normal' social behaviour. For example, what is and is not socially acceptable? Who decides what is and is not acceptable? Do innate right and wrongs exist? And if they do, are these values upheld by a social consensus? Opinions on deviance fall into one of two categories. Firstly, an absolutist view assumes that a social consensus on deviance does exist, and that deviance is a threat to managed social security and order and should be strongly discouraged. The opposite view is a relativist one, which acknowledges that a range of value systems exist ... ... middle of paper ... ...ompletely motivated by financial incentives and the public demand for scandal, the public should also appreciate a range of value systems exist and that opinion regarding deviance is not universal. The public should also be aware that the media supplies them with the material they seemingly want and accommodates for what it believes is a social consensus of values. References Cohen, Stan and Jock Young (1974). The manufacture of news. London: Constable. Kelsey, Jane and Warren Young (1982). The gangs: moral panic as social control. Wellington: Institute of Criminology, Victoria University. Shuker, Roy and Roger Openshaw (1990). Youth, media and moral panic in New Zealand. Palmerston North: Delta Research Monograph, Massey University. Lecture Handout (07-10-02) Media coverage of deviance: moral panics.

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