Cohens Moral Panic

Cohens Moral Panic

Moral Panic – A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges as a threat to social values and interests.

-          A threat emerges to societies values.

-          - This threat is presented in a stylised and stereotypical fashion by the mass media.

-          People with social power stir up moral panic/ a sense of panic .e.g. editors, bishop and politicians.

-          Moral panic involves the construction of ‘folk devils’ that need controlling.

-          People in power use ‘folk devils to substitute from the real social issue.

Historical Perspectives

·         Video nasties 1980’s

·         Video games 1990’s – now

·         Internet (IM, SNS), 2000 – now

Features of moral panic

·         Concern – behaviour of a particular group represented as having a threat.

·         Volatility – Short lived, panics erupt dramatically but are difficult to sustain.  Negative consequences for the rest of us.

·         Hostility – ‘folk devils’ constructed to create a clear division between ‘them’ and ‘us’.