During my Sociology classes, many students would be fascinated with the whole issue of moral panic. In the light of recent developments, I thought it would be good to share some ideas with you about this topic.
It was Stanley Cohen, in his work, Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1987) who first coined the term 'moral panics'. The concept can be defined as a sporadic episode which subjects society to bouts of moral panic - feelings of worry about the values and principles which society upholds which may be in jeopardy.
Cohen describes its characteristics as "a condition, episode, person or group of persons [who] become defined as a threat to societal values and interests." [Cohen, 1987: 9] In his book, Cohen discusses how the mass media fashions these episodes, or stylises them, amplifying the nature of the facts and consequently turning them into a national issue, when the matter could have been contained on a local level.
Due to Cohen's interest in youth culture and its perceived potential threat to social order, Cohen started research in this area of sociology. He discovered that in each era, a group has emerged who 'fits' the criteria, such as the Teddy Boys, Mods and Rockers, Skinheads and Hells' Angels.
As many would know, these groups are associated with certain types of violence, which in turn also provoke public reaction and emotion, as topics in their own right. Football hooliganism, drug abuse, vandalism and political demonstrations, all struck a chord in public opinion, but the impact might not have been on such a large scale, were it not for the part the mass media play in the exposition of the facts.
Cohen's study was mainly about the Mods and Rockers of the 1960's and how they were treated by the public. Truth is, they are perceived as a threat to law and order largely through the way the mass media represented them, in 'control culture'.
This refers to how the media sensationalised an event and then called for a punishment to be set to persecute the offenders. As Eldridge notes "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]
In other words, society cannot accept responsibility for its own failures so they look to find someone who can be incriminated.
Through the media, 'amplification' occurs and appeals to the public so that they concur with ready-made opinions about the course of action to be taken. Usually, opinions are sought from the members the 'moral barricade', i.e. bishops, politicians and editors. Together with the opinions of the 'experts', they reach an agreement about how to cope with the situation in hand, and the problem either disappears or at least deteriorates.
These 'panics' can be dealt with in different ways. Sometimes they are issues which have existed in society for time immemorial but a particular event triggered the significance.
Although generally they pass as quickly as they came and are long forgotten, there are occasions when the consequences and repercussions are so long lasting and so much in the public eye that they can affect legal and social policy or as Eldridge puts it, even the way society perceives itself.
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Doesn't all this sound a little close to home? Whatever the case, let us not panic or worry or spread rumors but let us keep sane, calm, rational, sensible and pray for normalcy to be restored as soon as possible and healing to be upon our land.
Bibliography
Cohen, Stanley (1972): Folk Devils and Moral Panics London: MacGibbon and Kee
Eldridge, John (1997): The Mass Media and Power in Modern Britain Oxford: University Press
6 comments to MORAL PANICS
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Unknown Dear Bayi
It is one thing to get a professional organization to jazz up speeches or programs but it is another thing to actually believe in what one says.
Sometimes, both don't match largely due to the heart condition.
And that could be the heart of the matter....
Take care and have a good weekend.
Warmest wishes
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Tiger The government is caught now, it has to do the right thing by silencing the ultra Malays, or it will lose the East Malaysian support in the next election.
It's next action will determine it's survival in 2013.
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Unknown Truth is the harder they try to drive a wedge amongst the people, the harder we will unite against them.
I sincerely hope our East Malaysian fellow countrymen will vote wisely and be in synch with us.
Take care!
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semuanya OK kot Al Jazeera had a documentary on the resurgence of white supremacists in that "great democracy" that has a flag similar to ours. Having failed to defeat liberalism at the national level, they are planning and recruiting for the long haul (using vague slogans like "Take back what is ours" to stay ahead of the law). There is no real conflict with their "religion" because the underlying motivation is hate. These people are mentally still in era of the Confederacy, where they enjoyed the use of slave labour supplied by ... Oops! We don't want to start a riot, do we?
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Unknown Dear Semuanya Ok Kot
Many thanks for sharing that information. I missed that program. In many ways, that particular country you mentioned is very much like ours although many are unaware of the chilling similarities of the negative sort.
I follow an American blogger who is an excellent writer. Unfortunately, he has been ill and has stopped blogging temporarily. You can check his blog at THE POLITICAL PUNCH.
Take care and happy reading!
Cheers
bayi It would appear that our PM is not very adept at handling moral panics. He is certainly not practising his own philosophy of 1Malaysia. Until today I don't even know if he really subscribes to what he purportedly espouses.