The idea of moral panics has entered the popular vocabulary as well as having become a key concept in sociology. Rarely a day goes by without its use by politicians or in the media. Two contemporary 'folk devils' are suspected Islamic terrorists and asylum seekers.
Published in 1972 and empirically grounded in an analysis of the mods and rockers fighting on the beaches of Brighton, Clacton and Margate in the 1960s, Cohen anticipated that new folk devils would emerge and be subjected to the same processes of media sensitisation, societal reaction, moral censure and deviance amplification.
When I read the first edition, I was struck by Cohen writing about situational logic: a group of ordinary people at a bus stop were probably waiting for a bus; a group of Mods were certain to be waiting for trouble.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
