Library:Folk Devils and Moral Panics
| Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stanley Cohen |
| First published | 1972 |
| ISBN | — |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Society, Identity & Demographics News Media & Journalism |
| Tactics | Propaganda Technique Statistical & Evidentiary Distortion |
Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers is a 1972 book by Stanley Cohen.
Summary
Sociologist Stanley Cohen studied the British media and public reaction to clashes between youth groups, the Mods and Rockers, at seaside towns in 1964. He found that exaggerated news coverage turned minor disorder into a national threat.
The book popularized the term "moral panic," which became a standard concept in sociology and media studies.
Key points
- Folk devils. Groups are cast as threats to social values and blamed for wider problems.
- Media amplification. Coverage exaggerated events, predicted more trouble and helped create the behavior it described.
- Control culture. Police, courts and politicians responded to the panic with harsher measures.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
Many entries in Bullshitopedia, from satanic ritual abuse to "superpredators," follow the pattern Cohen described.
Related entries
- Superpredators would cause a juvenile crime wave
- Satanic ritual abuse at the McMartin Preschool
- The Culture of Fear