Cohen's folk devils and moral panics
Cohen's study of mods and rockers showed how media creates 'folk devils' (scapegoated groups) and 'moral panics' (exaggerated public fear), amplifying deviance through sensationalist coverage.
Real World
In the early 2000s, UK tabloids (the Daily Mail especially) ran repeated front-page stories about 'feral hoodies' and 'yob culture', triggering public demands for ASBO legislation — a textbook moral panic with identifiable folk devils.
Exam Focus
Identify all five stages of Cohen's moral panic model in sequence; missing stages (e.g. 'moral entrepreneurs') is a common reason students drop marks.
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