Audience theory - Moral panics

A moral panic is a feeling thats expressed in a population about an issue that appears to threaten the social order. Stanley Cohen believes that moral panic only occurs when "a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests."The media make sure to create film genres, such as; horror and violent film which have a negative effect on the audience that create, anxiety, concern or panic.

The effects model contributes to moral panics because if students watch these films then they become lazy and people who panic may not pass their exams. The media will also, go and create violent 'copycat' behaviour or mindless sopping in response to advertisements. 

Pokemon is a good example where the show is a bad influence on children because apparently it's a promotion of psychic abilities and evolution. The video nasties is another good example which create moral panic because there have been a set of movie which have been banned in the UK for supposedly causing immoral behaviour. My music video doesn't relate to this because my video is sad and it wouldn't create no panic. It may create some upsetting panic, if someone loses their loved ones and they wonder how they would have to cope with it after.