moral panic

Also known as moral panics

feeling of fear spread among a large number of people that some evil threatens the well-being of society

Key facts

Author: Stanley Cohen
Published: 1972 (1st ed., MacGibbon and Kee) 1980 (2nd ed., Basil Blackwood) 2002 (3rd ed., Routledge)

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Image: Zeitung Derenburg 1555 crop.jpg

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Commons category: Moral panic

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Article

Witch-hunting is a historical example of mass behavior potentially fueled by moral panic. 1555 German print.

A moral panic, also called a social panic, is a widespread feeling of fear that some evil person or thing threatens the values, interests, or well-being of a community or society. It is "the process of arousing social concern over an issue", usually elicited by moral entrepreneurs and sensational mass media coverage, and exacerbated by politicians and lawmakers. Moral panic can give rise to new laws aimed at controlling the community.