SOCI 2520 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Moral Panic, School Violence, Daytime Television

• School: York University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOCI 2520
• Professor: Fred Diamond

Document Summary

School shootings, the media, and public fear: ingredients for a moral panic. Elliott notes that many americans feel as if violence has invaded their lives, and that much of the violence seems to be petty, senseless, and random, suggesting a wanton disregard for human life. American society, and recent school shootings have resulted in a moral panic. I(cid:374) the e(cid:455)es of (cid:373)o(cid:396)al e(cid:374)t(cid:396)ep(cid:396)e(cid:374)eu(cid:396)s, these (cid:862)folk de(cid:448)ils,(cid:863) de(cid:448)ia(cid:374)ts, o(cid:396) outside(cid:396)s deserve public hostility and punishment. Blumer refers to five stages that must be met in the construction of a social problem: 01. The most concrete and easily accessible measure of public concern over an issue are newspaper reports, opinion polls, and social/political movements. Increased levels of hostility directed toward a deviant group and/or their problematic behavior(s) is also a necessary element of a moral panic. Objective molehills have been made into subjective mountains. Several high-profile incidents occurring within a short time frame ignited widespread public concern, fear, and reaction.