Moral Panics in the modernised Society
Cherilyn Wyner
S2593031
http://cherilynfriday.blogspot.com/
The Mass media in regards to crime is becoming more of an issue over these last few years, ‘Moral Panics’ is one of the many issues the modernised society is facing today.
A moral panic is a
mass movement based on false or exaggerated views that some cultural behaviors or groups of people, those being a
minority group or a
subculture, is dangerously
deviant and poses a threat to our society. These panics are generally fueled by
media coverage of social issues, although semi-spontaneous moral panics do occur.(‘'New Communication Technology'’, 2007)
First isolated by Cohen (1973), moral panics as a media effect sough to explain the media frenzy that welcomed the now-seemingly naive cavorts of the Mods and Rockers at the British sea-side in the 1960s. The media portrayed the new founded victims as ‘folk devils’ who were questioned to media rage for simply being there. The amount of violence that actually occurred was very limited and was thrown out of proportion by “the moral entrepreneur” as they occupied in the “ideological exploitation of deviance”.
In the 1970’s an important and recognizable issue was approached when capitalism in Brittan was facing a series of threats: strikes, disturbances in the inner cities and the activities of the IRA in Northern Ireland. To divert the publics attention away from this major issue, it has been argued that the agents of social control exaggerated the threat posed by a relatively infrequent offence – street crime – gave a new label, “Mugging”, and a new moral panic was created. (Jones, 2005)
For more then a century there have been panics in regards to crime and the activities of ‘youth’ in particular who had been frequently presented as potentionally immoral and a threat to society. An example of this was jazz and then rock ’n’ roll, as they were said to be leading youth into licentious and anti-social behaviour taking place in the 1950s (Thompson, 1998)
As outlined, in the 1950s music was a cause of striking up a moral panic. In more recent events the relationship of North American popular culture and public morality is examined. Focusing on the particularly serious accusation that rock music can cause teen suicide. Marilyn Manson has played what Jacques Attali would call a "prophetic" role in this crisis by painstakingly deconstructing its discursive elements and subverting them with an almost sadistic delight, thus a moral panic occurred. (Wright, 2000)
Moreover another event that has the media aroused involves bullying in schools. The issue has been widely publicised by the media following a number of parents removing their children from schools as a result of bullying.
And another issue that has raised awareness is the concern of young Indigenous people who have been paint-sniffing in Brisbane to attract the public’s attention. Cohen's (2002) moral panic and Young's (1971a, 1971b) deviance intensification frameworks are used to study the reactions of the police and of ordinary citizens. They concluded that while leading answers to paint-sniffing in Brisbane, they increase the young people's estrangement and marginalization from society, thus reproducing the social conditions that lead to sniffing. (Cox L., Ogwang T., J Saldanha, 2006)
Vast majority of societies have been engrossed by a moral panic and it is crucial those who encounter such a threat are ware of the characteristics. Goode and Ben-Yehuda (1994) outline what constitutes a moral panic. (Jones, 2005)
The five man features of a moral panic include: concern, hostility, consensus, disproporionality and volatility. In summary, each characteristic can be evaluated. Concern; awareness is vital for notifying society that the behaviour of a particular group is likely to have a negative consequence for the rest of society, this gives rise to public concern. Hostility; increased hostility directed at the ‘folk devils’ is required, they also may be referred to as the enemy of respectable society. Consensus; Acceptance that the threat posed by the specific group is indeed a real threat to the rest of society is vital. Disproportionality; in the term ‘disproportionality’ it is implicit that the social reaction to the event is thrown out of proportion. For instance, in moral panic the public is shown statistics for the evidence, they are usually exaggerated. And finally, Volatility; Moral panic, as this very word indicates are volatile. Moral panics have a limited ‘shelf life’, though the issue can be around for a while, it will eventually fade away. (Jones, 2005)
Moral panics concerning new communications technologies are sometimes the unexpected consequence of technological convergence - the incorporation of different technologies, such as mobile phones and digital cameras; they converge into a single device. Such technologies are more than the sum of their parts; mix photography and mobile telephony and you have a powerful tool for professional reporters and for public-minded citizens who come upon misdoing. Whether a moral panic involves the convenience of Internet pornography to children, clergy that are routine sexual abusers of children, mobile phones that take and transmit digital photographs or cloning and stem cell research, moral panics in regards to technology and communication all have a bias in the real world. (
Grayson, 2004)
Thus in conclusion, with any issue that is a threat to our society today, awareness is vital to help the general public deal with deviant groups, and or media exaggeration, in this circumstance, people should be aware about the media trying to divert our minds to minor incidents while bigger things are happening in the world around us not only is it seen throughout every day situations, moral panics can occur throughout communication and technological devices.
Bibliography
Cohen, S (1973), Folk Devils and Moral Panics, Paladin, St Albans
Cox L., Ogwang T., J Saldanha (2006) “Paint on their lips: Paint-sniffers, good citizens and public space in Brisbane” Vol 42; pp. 412
Gagne A., K (2004) ‘
Moral Panics Over Youth Culture and Video Games’
http://www.gamebits.net/other/mqp.html (Accessed: 9th May 2007)
Grayson, R (2004) ‘Society's moral panic attacks - all grist for the media mill’
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2455 (Accessed: 9th May 2007)
Jones E & Jones M., (1999) Mass Media, pp. 142 Macmillan Press London
‘New Communication Technology’, (2007) ‘Moral Panic’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic(Accessed: 6th May)
‘New Communication Technology’
http://www.mediaknowall.com/violence/moralpanicnotes.html (Accessed: 6th May 2007)
Thompson, K (1998) ‘Moral Panics’ pp.165, Hoboken: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Wright, R (2000) ‘I’d sell you suicide': Pop music and moral panic in the age of Marilyn Manson’ Vol 19 pg.365
Sands L (1998) ‘Moral Panics’
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Students/lcs9603.html (Accessed: 9th May 2007)
