SOC 1500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Moral Panic, Public Knowledge
24 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Public knowledge about crime and justice largely comes from mass media. The way crime is portrayed in the media differs from empirical accounts media portrayals can fuel moral panics. A mass movement based on the false or exaggerated perception that some individual or group is dangerously deviant and poses a menace to society. Developed by stanely cohen; the mods and the rockers . 1)moral entrepreneurs; decides what is good/bad, law makers, politicians, wealthy old white men. 2)folk devils; source of the threat, mods and the rockers, deviant, young kids. Shows how media, in conjunction with various claim-makers and experts can amplify the risk posed by certain types of crimes or criminals. Too little attention is given to the medium.
