Media Reporting of Crime: Moral Panics | Sociology for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Folk Devil

Moral Panic and Media Influence
Stanley Cohen (1972) argued that media coverage of crime can trigger a moral panic by exaggerating the scope and severity of social issues. Examples of such issues include:

• The impact of Drill music, a hip-hop subgenre, on gang culture
• Violence depicted in media, such as video games and films
• Anti-social behaviour linked to youths wearing hoodies
• The prevalence of knife crime among young people in London

Folk Devils and Scapegoating

A key characteristic of moral panic is the portrayal of certain groups as 'folk devils,' stereotyped as threats to societal values. These groups, scapegoated for broader social problems, include:

• Migrants
• Refugees
• Single mothers
• Benefit cheats
• Youth offenders

Mods and Rockers

Cohen’s research focused on the clashes between two youth subcultures, the mods and rockers, particularly during 1964 incidents in Clacton, an English seaside resort. These fights, occurring mainly on bank holidays, involved bored youths engaging in street brawls and throwing stones. The media amplified these events the following day, exaggerating:

• The number of youths involved
• The extent of violent behaviour
• The scale and impact of damage caused

Cohen argued that the media’s portrayal cast the mods and rockers as folk devils, framing them as clear villains in a narrative that sparked a moral panic.

Deviancy Amplification

Cohen introduced the concept of deviancy amplification, where media sensationalism distorts events, creating a misleading image of youth behaviour. This exaggeration encourages more young people to emulate the reported deviant actions, escalating minor incidents into widespread issues. The public, influenced by newspapers and TV news, perceived the mods and rockers as threats to law and order, prompting harsh police responses and increased arrests. Cohen’s key argument is that media amplification of deviance generates further deviant behaviour.

A modern example is the 2011 London riots, where media coverage motivated more individuals to participate, seeking their moment of notoriety.