Deviance amplification spiral
Stanley Cohen's concept describing how media coverage of deviance, public concern, and increased policing amplify the perceived deviance and may actually increase the behaviour.
Real World
In 2011, tabloid 'gang' coverage of London riots led to intensified stop-and-search of young Black men across cities that had seen no disorder, increasing alienation and resentment — a textbook deviance amplification spiral beyond Cohen's original mods-and-rockers study.
Exam Focus
Spell out each stage of the spiral sequentially in your answer; describing it vaguely as 'media makes things worse' will not earn application marks.
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