Page 1: Moral Panic and Labelling Theory Foundations

This page explores the fundamental concepts of moral panic and labelling theory in criminology. The text examines how society creates and responds to deviance through various social mechanisms.

Definition: Moral panic refers to the process of arousing social concern over an issue, typically initiated by moral entrepreneurs and involving the creation of folk devils.

Vocabulary: A moral entrepreneur represents individuals like teachers and politicians who determine what constitutes criminal or deviant behavior.

Example: Jock Young's 1979 study of Notting Hill police demonstrated how media stereotypes influenced law enforcement targeting of specific groups.

Highlight: Becker's fundamental assertion that social groups create deviance by establishing and applying rules that label certain individuals as outsiders.

Quote: "It's not the nature of the act that makes it deviant but the nature of society's reaction to it."