Deviancy Amplification

• What is the main focus of Sociology LT10 Crime and the Media?

  Societal reaction to crime
• How does the media create crime and deviance?

  Through the process of labelling
• What do interactionists argue about the media's role in crime?

  The media amplify crime and deviance by creating moral panics
• What is a moral panic?

  An exaggerated over-reaction by society to a perceived problem
• What is the deviancy spiral effect?

  It suggests the media manipulates audiences through social control
• Who does the media identify as 'folk devils'?

  Groups that are demonised and seen as a threat to social order
• How do the media act as 'moral crusaders'?

  By presenting groups in a negative and stereotyped way
• What happens to deviance as a result of media sensationalism?

  It becomes sensationalised and exaggerated

  
• Who are moral entrepreneurs?

  Individuals or groups that condemn deviant behavior and call for action
• What is the effect of increased formal social control?

  More police officers are deployed and new laws may be created
• How does labelling by the media affect deviants?

  Deviants may live up to the labelling, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy
• What is a criticism of the concept of moral panics?

  It is not fully explained why some problems are amplified and others are not
• What did Cohen (1972) find about mods and rockers?

  Minor fights were sensationalised by the media
• How did the media exaggerate the events involving mods and rockers?

  By distorting the numbers involved and the extent of violence
• What is symbolisation in the context of media reporting?

  Clothing, hairstyles, and music are negatively labelled and associated with deviance
• What was the result of increased media reporting on mods and rockers?

  Increased policing and social control
• How did deviancy amplification occur with mods and rockers?

  They were further stigmatised, attracting more youths to the subculture
• What do functionalists believe about moral panics?

  They see them as a response to anomie created by social change
• How do neo-Marxists explain the media's coverage of black mugging in the 1970s?

  As a distraction from the crisis of capitalism and social problems
• What does Cohen believe about the occurrence of moral panics?

  They occur during periods of social change
• What empirical support does Lumsden's (2009) study provide?


  It supports the continued creation of moral panics in the mass media
• What criticism does Lumsden make about previous studies on moral panics?

  They fail to consider the reactions of individuals labelled as folk devils
• What do postmodernists like Thornton argue about audience reactions to moral panics?

  They believe audience reactions are not uniform and have less impact
• How do deviant groups influence media coverage according to Thornton?


  They can manipulate media coverage to their advantage
• What new opportunities for crime does Wall (2001) identify?

  The internet has created new technological opportunities for cybercrime
• What are cybercrimes?

  Computer-based crimes conducted through global electronic networks
• What are examples of cyber-deception and theft?

  Identity theft and phishing fraud
• What constitutes cyber-violence?

  Psychological harm or inciting physical harm through digital means
• What is cyber-trespassing?

  Crossing boundaries into others' cyber property, such as hacking
• What is an example of cyber-pornography?

  Involving minors and opportunities for children to access porn on the net
• Why is policing cyber-crime difficult?

  It is complex, on a huge scale, and has jurisdiction issues
• What is a challenge faced by police in combating cyber-crime?

  Limited resources and low priority given to cyber-crime
• What is the impact of new ICT on policing?

  They help police fight crime through surveillance and monitoring
• What do postmodernists criticize about surveillance technologies?

  They argue that such technologies infringe on human rights
• How does the media distort the image of crime?

  Violent crime is over-represented due to news values
• What is the media's role in causing crime?

  It creates feelings of relative deprivation and commodifies crime
• How have the effects of media on crime changed in postmodern times?

  Audiences are less easily manipulated by the media
• What new opportunities for crime does the internet provide?

  It creates opportunities for both cyber-crime and policing
• What are the key components of moral panics and deviancy amplification?

  • Media labelling creates crime and deviance
  • Moral panics are exaggerated societal reactions
  • Deviancy spiral effect manipulates audiences
  • Groups identified as 'folk devils' are demonised
  • Increased social control leads to more policing
  • Self-fulfilling prophecies occur as deviants react to labelling

  
• What are the reasons for moral panics according to different sociological perspectives?

  • Functionalists: Response to anomie from social change
  • Neo-Marxists: Distraction from capitalism crises
  • Cohen: Occur during periods of social change