Pluralist Evaluation of Moral Panics

• Pluralists argue that Moral Panics occur because the media is reflecting the values & concerns of their audience and that the media cannot create such panics if the stories do not match the perspectives of the audience
• One criticism of the Pluralist View of Deviancy Amplification & Moral Panics is that they may downplay the influence of more powerful groups or institutions in shaping which behaviours are labelled as deviant and how moral panics are constructed - It assumes a level playing field among interest groups, which can overlook how dominant groups can exert more influence
• Another criticism of the Pluralist View of Deviancy Amplification & Moral Panics is that it often assumes that there is a general consensus or negotiation among various groups about what constitutes deviance - This may oversimplify how conflicts and power struggles, rather than cooperation, shape societal reactions (assumes the audience are homogenous)
• Another criticism of the Pluralist View of Deviancy Amplification & Moral Panics is that it may not sufficiently address how structural factors, such as economic inequality and institutional power, impact the process of deviancy amplification and moral panics - It tends to focus more on the interactions between different interest groups rather than on broader systemic issues
• Another criticism of the Pluralist View of Deviancy Amplification & Moral Panics might not fully account for how media can amplify deviance and moral panics by sensationalizing certain issues (as it sees the media as presenting a true image), which can shift focus away from more complex social realities or structural factors