Essay
Stanley Cohen's theory of Moral Panic
- Course
- Institution
Here is my Criminology essay for the unit of Moral Panic. I was graded with a 1st. I hope this helps :) feel free to message me if you need any help.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
TalithaM123
Reviews received
Content preview
Is Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic still relevant today?SOCI1099
Understanding Deviance
This essay will discuss whether Stanley Cohen’s moral panic theory is still relevant today. In
addition, outlined will be the five stages of moral panic as well as moral panic being applied
, to the past and present. Moral panic was developed during the 1960s when Stanley Cohen
associated himself with the two working-class subculture groups present in the 1960s: the
Mods and Rockers. The Mods were known for riding scooters and dressing in fashionable
clothing, whereas the Rockers were conflicting in their image, dressing in leathers and riding
larger motorbikes. The two subculture groups clashed and became hostile towards each
other, leading to multiple fights breaking out in both Clacton and Brighton. This led to news
outlets reporting on the Mods and the Rockers confrontation, which encouraged the public
to believe society was at risk of being forced into their rivalry. For that reason, an outbreak
of moral panic began (Savage, 2014). Moral panic can be interpreted as a “condition, epis-
ode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values
and interests” (Cohen, 1972). Suggesting that a person or a group of people are viewed as
dangerous in the eye of the public, within Stanley Cohen’s book Folk Devils and Moral Panic:
The Creation of The Mods and Rockers, the primary example of Moral Panic is the Mods and
Rockers, a subculture group present in 1964 both of whom were viewed as savage and un-
ruly. Moral panic is perpetuated by the media permitting them to gain viewership through
news channels reporting on the threat, leading to deviant amplification, meaning said viol-
ent group becomes more deviant as a result of being labelled as such. This, in turn, benefits
those in charge, such as local government, police, and lawmakers, as fostered social control
means organisational manipulation can take place.
The theory of moral panic entails five key stages. Stage one includes someone being per-
ceived as a threat to social norms usually acting in a deviant manner. Deviances are actions
or behaviours that violate formal and informal cultural norms, such as laws or socially con-
structed norms. A socially constructed norm can include not swearing in public as it is seen
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TalithaM123. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.26. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
76669 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now