Questions and Answers
What is a moral panic?
A feeling of fear spread among a large number of people that some evil threatens the well-being of society.
Which of the following are examples of moral panic? (Select all that apply)
Who coined the term 'Mods and Rockers'?
Stanley Cohen
What are folk devils?
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Match the following concepts with their definitions:
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What is meant by 'players in the panic'?
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What is an elite engineering model?
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Positive panic refers to a negative reaction to societal behavior.
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Describe Cohen's 5 stages of moral panic.
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What can be a consequence of moral panic?
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What criticism is associated with the term 'panic'?
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Study Notes
Moral Panic Overview
- Moral panic refers to widespread fear that an evil threatens societal well-being, often fueled by media interactions.
- Examples include historical events like the 1980s satanic ritual abuse and the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak.
Folk Devils
- Defined as individuals or groups labeled by the media as deviant, blamed for societal issues.
- These figures often fade from memory but can sometimes inspire significant societal changes, such as new laws or policies.
Key Theorists
- Stanley Cohen introduced the terms "Mods" and "Rockers," highlighting media exaggeration of behavior that challenges social norms.
- Goode and Ben-Yahuda argue that moral panics are socially constructed and can inflict real harm while requiring a shared sense of threat among a group.
Elements of Moral Panic
- Concern: A sincere worry about a perceived social issue.
- Hostility: Identification of an "other" perceived as a threat, instigating fear.
- Consensus: A significant portion of society recognizes the threat as serious and caused by malicious entities.
- Disproportionality: The response to the perceived threat exceeds the actual issue, often leading to societal debates.
Key Players in Moral Panic
- Moral Entrepreneurs: Individuals or groups promoting the panic, including self-proclaimed "experts," media outlets, and political forces.
- Positive Panic: Leaders who label behaviors (either positively or negatively) and spread those labels widely across society.
Models of Moral Panic
- Grassroots Model: Panic originates from public anxiety, escalating during crises perceived as threats to safety.
- Elite Engineering Model: A powerful few manipulate circumstances to induce fear, diverting attention from more pressing issues.
- Interest Group Theory: Focused on moral crusaders aiming to enforce societal rules and norms based on specific interests.
Cohen's Stages of Moral Panic
- Identification of a threat to societal values.
- Media portrayal of this threat in recognizable forms.
- Rapid public concern builds around the issue.
- Responses from authorities or influential figures occur.
- The panic subsides or leads to tangible social changes.
Consequences and Criticism
- Innocent individuals may suffer injustices, and regulatory responses can become extreme relative to the actual threat level.
- Moral panics can oversimplify complex societal issues and distract from more significant problems.
- Criticism arises from the term "panic," suggesting irrationality, as well as the challenge of defining what constitutes a proportional response.
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Description
Explore the concept of moral panic, a phenomenon involving widespread fear of perceived threats to society. This quiz covers historical examples, key theorists like Stanley Cohen and Goode & Ben-Yahuda, and the elements that characterize moral panics, such as concern, hostility, and consensus.