Moral Panics Learning Outcomes All will know and

Moral Panics

Learning Outcomes • All will know and understand Stanley Cohen’s theory of moral panics. • Most will understand how this links to Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine. • Some will be able to identify contemporary moral panics in the mass media.

The Daily Mail • How, and why, does The Daily Mail aim to shock audiences with its headline content?

Moral Panics • What are moral panics?

Moral Panics • They relate directly to The Effects Model. • Moral panic was a term first used by Stan Cohen (1972) for a process where “a condition, episode, person or group … emerge to become defined as a threat to social values and interests”

Moral Panics • They relate directly to The Effects Model. • Moral panic was a term first used by Stan Cohen (1972) for a process where “a condition, episode, person or group … emerge to become defined as a threat to social values and interests” • IT IS THEREFORE A THEORY ABOUT POWER – WHAT OTHER THEORY DOES THIS LINK TO?

Moral Panics • It has become a way of promoting censorship and controlling the fears of the mass audience. • Television has become a victim of the this moral panic. • A perfect (satirical) example of a moral panic. • http: //youtu. be/0 YOh-rpvj. Yg? t=58 s

Moral Panics - article • Read through the handout. • Highlight, and take notes on what you think the key points of the article are.

Moral Panics - article • Read through the handout. • Highlight, and take notes on what you think the key points of the article are. In pairs list as many issues/debates within contemporary society, particularly the news media, that have caused moral panic.

In pairs list as many issues/debates within contemporary society, particularly the news media, that have caused moral panic.

Moral Panics article What are some of the techniques used • Read through theoften handout. to promote a moral panic? • Highlight, and take notes on what you think the key points of the article are. In pairs list as many issues/debates within contemporary society, particularly the news media, that have caused moral panic.

The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein) • Video contains some sensitive/disturbing images. • Watch the video: What is Klein’s hypothesis of the contemporary mass media? • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a. SF 0 e 6 o. O_tw

Leonard Berkowitz • He wrote about “frustration aggression theory”. • Berkowitz, an American, believed that violent content frustrated audiences, and led to increased levels of aggression.

Seymour Feshbach • He wrote about “catharsis theory”. • Catharsis = to be cleansed, or purged, by a sense of emotional release. • Feshbach, also an American, believed that violent content actually reduced audiences’ levels of aggression, as it gave them a sense of release.

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=3 bozxg. VQ 9 m 0 • On a scale of 1 to 10, how aggressive do you feel? 1= 10 =

http: //youtu. be/Hzi. G 9 DBf. Jf 0 • On a scale of 1 to 10, how aggressive do you feel? 1= 10 =

Debate • Violence in the media has created a culture of violence, normalised acts of aggression and lead to lack of empathy in society.