Moral Panic is when certain individuals, groups of individuals, certain ideologies etc threaten the social order of societies. A modern example would be that of singers Amy Winehouse and Pete Doherty, who are modern day scapegoats as they are often criticised for their alleged promotion of drugs. They are viewed as a bad influence on the youth of today and threaten the social order.
Historically, another example of this would be when Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany. Hitler used the Jewish race as a scapegoat for the problems faced under his rule. He used his severe influence on the media to create the "moral panic" and have his people in fear in order to appreciate his leadership.
The main features of moral panic consist of:
Concern - Behaviour of a particular group that is viewed as threatening.
Volatility - When the situation erupts on a large scale.
Hostility - "Folk Devils" are constructed to divert from the real issue.
Consensus - Widespread acceptance of the threat.
Disproportionality - The severe exageration and fabrication of the actual eveidence.
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