Moral Panics

What are moral panics?

A moral panic is when 'a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylised and stereotypical fashion by the mass media'-Stan Cohen Folk devils and moral panics. so a problem is identified , the media report on this problem by representing and making free use of stereotypes, social reaction follows, and the final nail in the coffin is the introduction of social controls.

some Contemporary moral panics
>the aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting
>Paedophilia- Scandals in schools and the catholic church
>Bullying
>healthy eating- 5-a-day, school meals
>knife crime

Problems with moral panics
> mass media can radicalize the population
>can cause unnecessary or overly harsh laws on the demonized minority group
>can be quite varied (either incredibly short term impacts or a  long lasting stigma)

Labelling theory
labelling theory is the idea that all of our actions are judged and labelled by the reactions of others e.g. a mother mildly smacks her child on the backside, some passers by may react with a dissaproving sigh, but the reaction and the law wold deem this an acceptable punishment