"Deviancy amplification spiral is a media hype phenomenon defined by media critics as an increasing cycle of reporting on a category of antisocial behavior or other undesirable events"
Stanley Cohen, Moral panics usually include 'deviancy amplification spiral'.
The theory is:
Starts with a 'deviant act' (often criminal)
The mass media report the newsworthy story, which highlight borderline examples that would not have been if they did not confim a patterm, and ignores any statistics showing that it is less common, harmful or anything that would keep the public more rational. This leads to rare problems looking common and minor problems looking more serious, the public thenwan tto keep informed with events. The publicity can glamourize and make it look more acceptable increasing the 'deviant' behavior.
Supporters of the theory; push for more forces against the 'deviant' act. Polics, law enforcers, magistrates and judges, politicians deal more harshly and give out stricter sentences. Causing public to believe the fear is justified while the media is only profiting more from the escalation of panic writing stories on specific arrests.
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