Effects Of Moral Panic

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Moral panic involves the feeling of fear that is spread among many individuals to the extent that it threatens a society’s wellbeing. As a process, moral panic is defined the arousal of social concern over a particular issue by elements such as mass media and moral entrepreneurs. At times the panic object is original in nature while in others and it is something that existed for a substantial period of time and suddenly appears. In the moral panic construction, several stages are involved including; a group or individual being termed as a community interest or social norms’ threat, the depiction of the threat in a recognizable symbol by the media, the arousing of public concern due to portrayal of the recognized symbol, the coming up …show more content…
An enhanced coverage of the mass media on a particular issue results in various perceptions among the public members. The media’s role in facilitating panic may include; setting the agenda by selecting those socially problematic events termed as newsworthy, transmitting the images by use of moral panic’s rhetoric as well as breaking the silence then making the claim. The media through fear creation, reinforces stereotypes and exacerbate the preexisting world divisions which are often based on ethnicity, race and social class. This effects can be remedied by installing policies that regulates and control the media from giving information in a manner that spreads fear in relation a particular issue. The public is also a major crucial player in moral panic creation since a moral panic exists only to the extent where the public’s outcry over an alleged threat is exists. Moreover, the success of other social actors involved in moral panic in the precipitation and sustainance of the moral panic is contingent upon their success in fueling outrage and concern towards the public. This can be remedied by enlightening the public on the negative effects of moral panic so as to encourage them into avoiding such instances. Moral panic does not just happen spontaneously but is as brought about by complex dynamics and the interplay among some social factors. These factors, including the public and media, should be put in check to mitigate the effects it could bring in relation to moral
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