By Ellie Beazley

Moral Panic

Moral Panic cycle

This is a cycle process because it is an on going problem. As something starts it off like a problem that is frightening to social order. This then causes people become frightened of the situation due to the media that causes the frenzy from the representation they cause by showing the consequences of the situation which therefore builds up the fear factor. It keeps on going round in this loop because new ‘threats’ are being expresses over dramatically through media making it seem worse than it is.

Folk devils can either be an individual or a group who are portrayed as outsiders by the media and are blamed for all the crimes that happen. Folk devils are what usually cause the moral panic cycle. For example in the 60’s mods and rockers were blamed for everything bad that happened within society at this time.

Folk devils

Mods and RockersIdentification of a problem

Mods and rockers lash out in gang fights due

to their differences.

Identification of a subversive minorityMods and Rockers

The few who spoil the enjoyment of millions and are identified by their style.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/low/witness/may/18/newsid_3014000/3014033.stm

“The Mods had designer suits, Italian scooters and The Who (Band)”

“Rockers had leathers, motorbikes and Elvis”

VSTwo groups

who just didn’t have anything in common.

Mods and Rockers

Simplification of the causeLack of respect for authority figures Wanted to be rebels Something to do

They threw deckchairs around, broke them up to make bonfires, shouted obscenities at each other and at passers-by, jostled holidaymakers and terrified elderly residents.Mods and Rockers gathered at the Palace Pier chanting and jeering at each other and threw stones when police tried to disperse them.The teenagers staged a mass sit-down on the promenade when police, using horses and dogs, tried to move them on.In Margate, there were running battles between police and up to 400 youths on the beach.Bottles were thrown and two officers were slightly hurt.Later, on the high street, around 40 young men smashed council flat windows and vandalised a pub and a hardware shop.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/05/14/jjbit_20_may_1964.shtml

Not actually fighting each other but actually disrespecting the authority and older generations. Being rebels and doing the opposite to what everyone wanted them to do.

Stigmatization of those involvedMods and Rockers

Calling them ‘Wild ones’ signifies them as being animals. This also makes them seen as out of control and untameable

Highlighting most dramatic things in bold Makes it seem like a massive blood

bath If it bleeds it leads ‘Shouting’ again like they are wild

animals screaming at each other

Not just males but also girls participating in this. Would have been shocking to hear at this time.

Black eye Showing harm was cause in this battle

Mods and Rockers

Stamping down hard

Dr George Simpson, chairman of Margate magistrates, jailed four young men and imposed fines totalling £1,900 on 36 people.

Three offenders were jailed for three months each and five more sent to detention centres for up to six months. In Brighton, two youths were jailed for three months and others were fined.http://

www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/05/14/jjbit_20_may_1964.shtml

Harsher jail sentences and increasing the fines that were being given to the mods and rockers. Most were fined for this.

They had even sent some away from the area to camps to try and tame their behaviours

A lot of the mods and rockers that were in the riot were arrested/fined.