Moral Panic: Understanding the Concept and Media's Role in Promoting It

Running head: MORAL PANIC
MORAL PANIC
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1MORAL PANIC
A moral panic is a fear that is widely spread however it is mostly irrational. It is often a
feeling of fear that someone or something is a threat to the safety, values, and interests of a
community or society at large (Longazel, 2013). It is essential to understand that often a moral
panic is initiated and continued by news media. The essay aims to discuss the concept of moral
panic along with performing an evaluation of moral panics and urban legends that are promoted
by media exposure.
The concept of moral panic was developed first by Stan Cohen in the 1960s. Initially, the
idea was formed to understand ways of gaining social reactions to the youth subcultures as a
social problem (Clapton, Cree & Smith, 2013). However, later it was found that any social
problem would develop, media would promote it which now resulted as causing a moral panic.
The question that triggers most while discussing the moral panic is the stories that are capable of
arising moral panic. Moral panic is often caused by stories that are related to social issues such as
child abuse or pedophilia, immigration, drug and alcohol consumption or street crime (Machin &
Mayr, 2013). Any moral panic includes a high level of concern for the social group which
affected by the social issue. Moral panic exhibits a certain level of hostility towards the deviants,
and they are seen as the enemy of society. In a moral panic, a certain level of consensus is
involved across the society as a whole.
The reason stories about social issues often become the moral panic is for they are related
to the society, and it develops a sense of insecurity. Moral panics are usually caused purposely as
a section of the community benefits from the moral panics. It helps in getting public support
often by false illusion. Few of the notable moral panic that dragged the attention of the public as
well as sociologists includes ‘welfare queens’ which spread the notion about a ‘gay agenda’
threatening American values and way of life.