Folk Devils And Moral Panics Analysis

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Theorist Stanley Cohen suggested in his book, Folk Devils and Moral Panics (1972), that a moral panic occurs within society when an episode from an individual or group rise to become a threat to the societal values that eventually will jeopardise the moral standing within community. According to Cohen, the media play a massive role which enforces moral panic within the community, even if they are only presenting the news. In addition, he often refers to the media overreacting to an aspect or part of the behaviour which may challenge the existing norms and values that are within society. This behaviour can be seen as a representation of the ways it is communicated and adopted by the outsiders and observers. Therefore, the media adds fuel to