3 Moral panics

• Designing campaigns of marginalization of a social group for ideological reasons by mobilising society’s feelings. 
• How’s moral panics produced?

  1. Define a group or subject as dangerous (suitable enemy)
  2. A threat is presented in a simple and distinctive way
  3. The description produces public concern
  4. Authorities respond (more police in the street)
  5. This process produces social change in the life and the feelings of a given society
• Elements of moral panics

  1. Preoccupation (not fear): of an imagined or potential threat
  2. Hostility: rage against the folk devils and authorities in charge of acting out
  3. Consensus: general feeling that something must be done (media and powerful people)
  4. Disproportionality/ magnification: the public concern does not match the objective harms
  5. Volatility; panic suddenly appears and disappears.