Moral panics

What is a moral panic?

Moral panic is an interesting social phenomenon that can have tragic results. The term is used to describe a state of panic induced in a large group of people, who feel that a societal norm or an aspect governing the safety of people is being seriously threatened. The term is the creation of sociologist Stanley Cohen, who examined the way that Mods and Rockers were perceived as a threat to society in the 1960s and early 1970s. Moral panic clearly existed prior to Cohen creating the term. Virtually every dance style introduced in the 20th century created such panic; even the waltz was condemned much earlier as a sure path to sin because the couples embraced each other. Moral panics have been around for ages, even Plato thout that youth vulture was something worth worrying about.

An example of a modern moral panic

Knife crime seems to be today’s moral panic, although there have been few incidents it seems that the media has decided to brand everyone that wears a hoody as a hooligan and they must be carrying a knife. Of course this Is not true but it has turned into moral panic, and moral panics always seem to be surrounding youth cultures. Most young men don't carry knives; most young people are not components of what some politicians are calling the 'broken society'. It is just simple scapegoating, as youths will always be easy to blame.

The future of moral panic
I believe that along as there is a youth culture of any sort there will always be a moral
panic surrounding the, and I ma sure in the future when I am older I will be part of the
Elder generation that is positive that youth culture has become more destructive from
when I was young, however I doubt that it would it will actually be the case that
thereis a problem with the youths of the future, I feel that I will have just become
more paranoid. So I believe there will always be moral panics and this will continue
in the future.