Question

Waddington's view on moral panics is that:

(A) They are a useful concept for understanding how the media and authorities can manipulate public opinion
(B) They are a value-laden term that should be abandoned
(C) They are a sign that society is in decline
(D) They are a necessary response to deviance and crime

Answer 1

Waddington's view on moral panics is that they are a useful concept for understanding media and authority influence on public opinion, and can lead to societal divisions.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Waddington's view, moral panics are a concept that helps to understand the ways in which media and authorities may shape public opinion. Rather than considering them signs of societal decline or as simplistic responses to deviance and crime, Waddington lends credence to the idea that moral panics can be engineered. Societal reactions to various issues can be exaggerated or constructed through media narratives, often to the benefit of certain institutions or social groups, shaping the political and societal discourse and potentially leading to a separation between different subcultures within society. This view suggests a critical perspective on how societal concerns are manipulated, drawing attention to the pitfalls of taking media portrayals at face value without considering underlying motives or the possibility of manufactured consent.