Can Moral Panics Be Good?

Many sociologists have observed that those in power ultimately benefit from moral panics, since they lead to increased control of the population and the reinforcement of the authority of those in charge. Others have commented that moral panics offer a mutually beneficial relationship between news media and the state.

Are moral panics social problems?

Moral Panic: Background and Occurrence in the United States

It is important to note that the mere occurrence of a moral panic is not to suggest that a social problem does not exist; rather, how the problem is defined and the response to it are of concern (Cohen, 2002).

Why are moral panics created?

Moral panics arise when distorted mass media campaigns are used to create fear, reinforce stereotypes and exacerbate preexisting divisions in the world, often based on race, ethnicity and social class.