Legal and Ethical Issues

Hypodermic Needle Theory

• Theorises that audiences are essentially passive, and will absorb messages relayed to them by the media.
• This means that, after watching a violent horror film, or plying a violent POV shooter, audience members will be negatively influenced.
• This presupposes that audiences are passive (unable to reject media messages) rather then active (they make sense if media messages through personal and social contexts).

Moral Panic and Folk Devils

In 1972, Stanley Cohen developed the moral panic theory. This encompassed ideas of folk devils in society.

Moral panic happens when 'a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests'.

His research was based on the mods and rockers in the 1960s, but have since been applied to the media.

The Stages of Moral Panic

• Someone, something or a group are defined as a threat to social norms or community interests
• The threat is then depicted in a small and recognisable symbol/form by the media
• The portrayal of this symbol rouses public concern
• There is a response from authorities and policy makers
• The moral panic over the issue results in social changes within the community