Moral Panic - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Moral Panic: A societal fever dream, a collective gasp of alarm over a perceived threat to cherished values. More than mere concern, it’s an exaggerated and often irrational outburst of public anxiety, fueled by media hype, political opportunism, and deep-seated cultural anxieties. It can be mistaken for genuine social reform or simple overreaction, but its roots run far deeper than surface-level worry.
The concept, while formally defined later, finds echoes in historical anxieties dating back centuries. While a precise early marker is elusive, anxieties mirroring moral panic were visible in witch hunts of the late Middle Ages. Court records and pamphlets from the 15th century reveal patterns: rumors spiraling into accusations, amplified by church and community leaders, painting ordinary individuals as existential threats to Christian society. These echoes highlight a familiar narrative structure still resonant today.
The modern understanding of moral panic took shape in the late 20th century, largely through the work of sociologist Stanley Cohen. His 1972 book Folk Devils and Moral Panics analyzed the Mods and Rockers conflicts in 1960s Britain. Cohen argued that the media amplified minor clashes, creating a disproportionate sense of crisis. This amplification cast these youth subcultures as “folk devils,” embodying societal fears and demanding control. Since then, the theory has been applied to various phenomena, ranging from concerns over Dungeons & Dragons to anxieties about violent video games. What if the very acts of labeling and combating these "threats" actually fuel the panic itself?
Ultimately, the specter of moral panic endures, reappearing in our digital age as viral outrage and online shaming. Contemporary debates over cancel culture, misinformation, and the impact of social media echo earlier moral panics. Perhaps, the core question remains: how can societies distinguish between legitimate concerns and manufactured hysteria, and who benefits when fear takes hold?