sociology of law

MORAL PANIC THEORY

State University of New York—New Paltz December 7, 2018

Prof. Sarah Tosh, City University of New York

Critical Criminology and Moral Panic Theory:

■Critical criminology: challenges traditional understandings and uncovers false beliefs about crime and criminal justice

– Moral Panic theory: seeks to understand punitive responses to perceived social problems

Moral Panic defined: “A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; the moral barricades are manned by editors, bishops, politicians and other right-thinking people; socially accredited experts pronounce their diagnoses and solutions; ways of coping are evolved or…resorted to; the condition then disappears, submerges, or deteriorates and becomes more visible.” (Cohen 1972)

Moral Panic defined: “Sometimes the object of the panic is quite novel and at other times it is something which has been in existence long enough, but suddenly appears in the limelight. Sometimes the panic passes over and is forgotten, except in folk-lore and collective memory; at other times it has more serious and long-lasting repercussions and might produce such changes as those in legal and social policy or even in the way the society conceives itself.” (Cohen 1972)

Moral Panic Theory:

■Jock Young (1971) – The Drugtakers – Hippie drug users in London

■Stanley Cohen (1972) – Folk Devils and Moral Panics – Violence between youth subcultures (“mods”

v. “rockers”)

Elements of Moral Panic: ■Folk devil – stereotypical “other” that is blamed for issue under panic

■Moral entrepreneurs – people who call attention to issue under panic

■Media attention – flurry of sensationalized attention to issue under panic

■Public sensitization – public attention and sensitization to issue under panic

■Rules and enforcement – punitive responses to issue under panic

■Societal context – time and place; gives panic power

■Possible purposes of moral panic: -For public: “othering”; defining out-group to secure the place of in-group -For moral entrepreneurs: political, social, or economic gain -For enforcement agencies: funding, employment, and purpose

■Why should we study moral panics? – To better understand the root causes of punitive laws. – To protect the rights of scapegoated populations.

How can we study moral panics?

Possible moral panics:

■Illegal immigration

■Violence in video games

■Gangs

■Teen use of cannabis

■Terrorism

■Pitt bulls

Elements to look for:

■Folk devil/scapegoat

■Moral entrepreneurs

■Media attention

■Public sensitization

■Rules and enforcement

■Societal Context

Main points

■Critical criminology’s moral panic theory is used to understand seemingly irrational criminal justice responses to real or perceived social problems.

■Moral panics blame folk devils, are often lead by moral entrepreneurs, gain their power from the societal context, and include increased media attention, public sensitization, and punitive laws and enforcement.

■Through the study of moral panics, we can better understand the root causes of punitive laws, and work to better protect the rights of scapegoated populations.