Moral Panics
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 9.1.6
Moral Panics
Moral panics are based on the media’s reaction to social groups or activities which are defined as threatening. Newspapers play a key role in creating a moral panic.
Moral panics
- Moral panics are based on the media’s reaction to social groups or activities which are defined as threatening.
- The media will report on such groups or events and as a result they create anxiety amongst the general public.
Newspapers
- Newspapers play a key role in creating a moral panic.
- Moral panics happen because society fails to adapt to dramatic social changes and as a result there is a sense of a loss of control over certain groups.
- Journalists assume a shared moral concern, so by reporting these issues they are giving the public what they want.
Marxists
- Marxists argue that the motivation in creating moral panics is profit because moral panics sell newspapers and create revenue for the ruling class.
Distinguishing features
- Increased public concern over the behaviour of a certain group. - Increased hostility towards the group.
- A certain level of public opinion agreement that there is a real threat and that it is caused by the group.
- Public concern is out of proportion to the real harm caused by the group.
- Moral panics appear and disappear very quickly.