Deviancy Amplification and Moral Panic

Cohen (1972) 7 steps

1. Deviant act is committed

2. Problem group is identiifed and sensationalised reports f their deviance is reported

3. Increased public desire to be kept informed

4. Publicity glamourises deviant behaviour

5. Moral panic develops

6. Public feel their fear is justified

7. Media Profits off the whole spiral

Cohen (1972)

introduced the concept of moral panics into sociology specifically in referance to social retention- particualry the media to youth subculture

Baurillard (2001)

concept of hyperreality is also useful in understanding the distortion of crime. suggests media doesnt represent reality but activley creates it

Hall et al (1978)

Argues that the British media's reaction to mugging constitutes much more than a repsonse to a rise in violent crime. Not just exaggerating + amplification of crime but revelaed the nations racism of urban specifically black youth

Greer and Reiner (2012)

media misrepresents crime by exaggeratinf the instances of seriously violent crime, drug related crime and downplays more common crime such as property crime

ONS (2015)

majority of people base their knowledge of the criminal justice system off the media

Inner City Gang Violence (1980s)

fueled by racism young people portrayed as criminal- contirbuted to the weakening of the police relations with the black community.

London 2011 riots

peaceful protests desended into riots that vast media coverage encouraged others to join in

Acid House Music and Raves (80s-90s)

media presented the dance scenes as negative and out of control, reported on female drugf related deaths