Bandura Theory

Albert Bandura

Moral Panic

Definition-

An instance of public anxiety or alarm in response to a problem regarded as threatening the moral standards of society.

Moral Panic occurs when someone or something is defined by the media as a threat to the values or interests of society. 

For example, the brawl between in the mods and rockers of the sixties. 

Hypodermic needle theory

The Hypodermic needle theory is a linear communication theory that suggests that media messages are injected directly into the brains of passive audiences.

The media is seen as powerful and able to ‘inject’ ideas into an audience who are seen as weak and passive and could be influenced by a message. 

For example, in Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and during World War 2 films were used to ‘inject’ propaganda ideas promoting the Nazi cause to the German audience. Today we still see party political broadcasts on television during elections.

Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson is a well known artist who has an extreme tough persona as the frontman of a well known band. 
On April 20, 1999, Columbine High School students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot dead 12 students and a teacher and wounded 24 others, before committing suicide. Immediately after the massacre, significant blame was directed at the band and, specifically, at its outspoken front-man.
Early media reports alleged that the shooters were fans, and were wearing the group's T-shirts during the massacre. Although these claims were later proven to be false, news outlets continued to run sensationalist stories with headlines such as "Killers Worshipped Rock Freak Manson" and "Devil-Worshipping Maniac Told Kids To Kill."

Natural Born Killers

The movie starring well known actor Woody Harrelson was released in August of 1994 stirred up controversy as it was released after OJ Simpson's flee from justice. It was said to feed the publics cruel fascination with carnage.