Moral Panic (Luke)













According to big Stanley, there are 5 key stages in the construction of a moral panic:
1. Someone, something or a group are defined as a threat to social norms or community interests.
2. The threat is then depicted in a simple and recognisable symbol/form by the media.
3. The portrayal of of this symbol rouses public concern.
4. There is a response from authorities and policy makers.
5. The moral panic over the issue results in social changes within the community.


Wikipedia also gives us some examples of moral panic:
Belief in widespread abduction of children by predatory paedophiles.
Belief in ritual abuse of women and children by Satanic cults.
Concerns over the effects of music lyrics. I really feel that one of these is not like the others.

This isn't the same as mass hysteria, which is apparently closer to a psychological illness than to a sociological phenomenon.

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