Moral Panics

Moral Panics (Wikipedia)

What are Moral Panics?

Hitler 1938

"If we do not take steps to preserve the purity of blood, the Jew will destroy civilisation by poisoning us all. "

The Daily Star, 2 December 1988

"Surely if the human race is under threat, it is entirely reasonable to segregate AIDS victims, otherwise the whole of mankind could be engulfed."

These examples show how 'Moral Panics' has been created unfoundedand lead to the persucution of minority groups. Moral panics can be stirred through to the public at mass appeal by the sue of media, meaning people such as Hitler in a postion of power can stir up public oppinion to his own thoughts, and he did it with propaganda.

Stanley Cohen
Coined the term 'moral panics' in 'Folk Devils and Moral Panics' 1987

The worrying that the values and priciples that society holds are in threat, "a condition, episode, person or group of persons become defined as a threat to societal values and interests."

The Media then allows these issues to become nationwide stylising and amplifying them.

Throughough youth culture a peceived threat has been identified as a potential threat to social morals e.g Teddy Boys, Mods and Rockers, Skinheads and Hells Angels.

The violence such as football hoologanisms, drug abuse, vandalism and political demonstrations, would not have impacted society as much without the involvement of the facts being highligthed by mass media.


Mods and Rockers 1960s
Representation (by the mass media) : threat to law and order

'control culture' - The sensaltionalising of an event and the calling of a punishment to persucate offenders by the media.

"In the process and as part of the dramatic element, scapegoats and folk devils are located and are woven into the narrative." [Eldridge 1997: 61]


Society can not accept responcilbility for its own falings and will look for someone to blame, so the guilt is off them.

'Amplification' - Gives the public appealing ready made oppnions about what action is to be made, founed from 'moral barricade' amd the oppinions of 'experts'.

Dealing with Panics

They can be topics that have existed previously but a particular event puts it in the limelight, they generally pass as quickly as the panic rised. However they can be so long lasting that society changes legal/social policies.

e.g

Cohens study on Mods and Rockers (Clacton 1964, Easter Sunday)

The two groups fought with some beach huts being vandalised and some windows broken. Ninety seven people were arrested.

Following morning the story headlined in every national newspaper e.g "Day of Terror by Scooter Groups" (The Daily Telegraph) and "Wild Ones Invade Seaside - 97 Arrests" (Daily Mirror).

Cohen's critizized the media's coverage stating it was subject to exaggeration and distortion of the facts. Such phrases as 'orgy', 'riot', 'siege', and 'screaming mob' and exaggeration of the numbers involved all resulted in the perception of the event as a much more violent affair than the facts support.

Youth culture still is an issue: Drug Abuse

- Reports on celebrities e.g. Kate Moss, Amy Winehouse, Brian Harvey

Led to Kate moss being dropped by H&M, Chanel and Burberry, after pictures of her using cocaine were shown in Daily Mirrror.

Aswell as East 17 being banned from 13 radio stations

Leah Betts

Press reaction
The press was quick to report that Leah's death was an example of the dangers of illegal drugsin general, and ecstasy in particular. The fact that she was so ordinary may have contributed to the sense of shock around the country. aAjor poster campaigns were used to spread the awareness however newspepers seemed to ignore the fact she actually managed to drown herself with the excess of water intake as a result of taking the pill.

Many of the facts were misconstrued or omitted from the newspaper coverage.

E.G, in 1986, Glasgow Social Services Director, Mary Hartnoll, was persecuted for writing a report in which she calculated that "ecstasy is a relatively safe drug. The risk of death is calculated at one in six point eight million. (The risk of dying from an ordinary dose of aspirin is greater)". Paul Betts declared her 'totally irresponsible' and told her to 'get her facts right'. They were.

False Information

Several newspapers declared in the early 1980's that HIV could only be contracted and passed on through homosexual activity. This along with the opening statements had an increasingly damaging effect on the gay community.

Jamie Bulger

Murder of James Bulger. In November 1991, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables tortured and killed James. Thirty eight people saw him being dragged along the shopping centre floor, and not one of them intervened. - role of 'active citizen'

- There had only been 10 children under 5 killed by strangers, so the Jamie Bulger case did not reflect British society but the media allowed it to take the role "reminder of humanity's most acient and beastial insticts".

"classic production of a broken home" implying that many children murder on a regular basis if there's trouble at home???

Killers' alleged viewing of the horror film 'Child's Play III', involving a doll who comes to life to wreak havoc.

Judge Morland -"I suspect that exposure to violent video films may in part be an explanation." little resemblence and cociendental - however the press had jumped on it

e.g

The Times, January 22, 1994, What kind of urban culture allowed such material to circulate freely in the homes of young children?"

The Independent on March 20, 1994 added "We must protect young minds". As

However, it is important to note that 'moral panics' are not only created by the newspapers but on several occasions they are discussed within the papers.