Interactionist Theories of Crime and Deviance - Folk Devils & Moral Panics | A Level Sociology

The work of Stan Cohen (1972) in introducing two concepts into our sociological study of crime and deviance - folk devils and moral panics - is explained in this video.

VIDEO TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction to theories of crime and deviance, focusing on Stanley Cohen's work on folk devils and moral panics.
00:33 - Cohen's examination of clashes between the mods and the rockers at seaside resorts in the early 1960s.
01:08 - Media exaggeration creating distinct subcultures and the identification of individuals as either mods or rockers.
01:44 - Cohen's research methods and comparison of different perspectives on the events.
02:17 - Media generating a moral panic about the behavior of young people and the decay of morality.
02:49 - Moral entrepreneurs, such as the media, government, and judiciary, aiming to reaffirm moral values and preserve the status quo.
03:27 - Creation of folk devils and their vilification as media creations reinforced by government and police actions.
04:02 - Deviancy amplification through increased policing, media presence, and the drawing in of more people, leading to more crime.
04:41 - Application of moral panics to other events, such as rave culture, terrorism, knife crime, and music as convenient folk devils.
05:15 - Criticisms of Cohen's work, including its outdated nature and the fading of moral panics over time.
06:28 - Contemporary examples of moral panics, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests.
07:03 - Conclusion

VIDEO SUMMARY
This video discusses theories of crime and deviance, with a focus on Stanley Cohen's concept of folk devils and moral panics. Cohen's research examined clashes between the mods and the rockers in the 1960s, highlighting the role of media exaggeration in creating moral panics and the subsequent vilification of certain social groups as folk devils. He identified moral entrepreneurs, such as the media, government, and judiciary, who aimed to reinforce moral values and maintain societal norms. The video explores the application of moral panics to various events throughout history, including rave culture, terrorism, knife crime, and music. Criticisms of Cohen's work are also discussed, alongside contemporary examples of moral panics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests. Overall, the video provides an overview of interactionist theories of crime and deviance and their relevance in understanding social reactions to perceived threats.

KEY TERMS IN THE VIDEO
interactionist theories, crime, deviance, Stanley Cohen, folk devils, moral panics, media, social groups, mods, rockers, exaggeration, moral values, moral entrepreneurs, folk devils, policing, deviancy amplification, rave culture, terrorism, knife crime, music, COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter, social reactions.