Folk Devils and Moral Panics: Media Representation and Moral Panic Surrounding Gang Culture and Organised Crime

Folk Devils
and Moral
Panic
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................2
Analysis..................................................................................................................................2
CONCUSION..................................................................................................................................7
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Ganga culture and organised crime related to gangs is centred around urban areas of the
United Kingdom which includes the cities of London, Manchester and Liverpool. In case of
regions West Midlands, south coast and northern England form the base of gang culture (Andell,
2019). Youth ganga culture has always been viewed as an unacceptable threat to British society.
The reason behind the selection of gang culture and criminal organizations is that this topic
includes media and widespread public reaction. Involvement of young people in gangs and the
reaction of British media and culture towards this occurrence can be considered a real life
example of moral panic. The present report includes discussion on moral panic, the media
representation of gangs and moral panic. The aim of the report is to understand the theory of
moral panic with the help of current situation of gang culture and organised crime surrounding
gangs along with media representation of these two subjects.
MAIN BODY
Analysis
Moral panic refers to widespread fear and alarm which is usually irrational because of an
issue which is considered a threat to the moral standards of the society. He moral panic theory
created by Stanley Cohen covers the social phenomenon of moral panic and the vital role of
media in creating situations which lead to moral panic (Deflem, 2020). The case of gang culture
and organised crime of gangs is heavily reported by the media and is involved in series of
criminal activities. The involvement of youth in criminal gangs and their role. This case can be
understood with the help of theory of moral panic which provides stages of moral panic and
response of public or media to moral concerns associated with specific social topic. As per the
theory of moral panic the first stage of the moral panic begins when a social group commits an
act of deviance which is relatively minor because of low numbers or less harm to society. In the
second stage media reports the acts committed by the group in an exaggerated manner and
sensationalises the crimes committed by the group by exaggerating the scale and state of crime
committed by the group (Dudai, 2018). In addition to this, symbolisation of the group in question
is completed by the media which associates them to specific symbols of harm. Symbolisation,
stereotyping and exaggeration of the deviant group assists in generalising the role of the group in
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