Moral Panics

A social phenomenon, first systematically defined and named by sociologist Stanley Cohen (in his 1972 book Folk Devils and Moral Panics), in which a segment of society reacts with exaggerated, disproportionate fear and concern toward a perceived threat—often personified in “folk devils” or marginalized groups—typically amplified by media and moral entrepreneurs. It refers to instances where public concern over a particular behavior or group escalates out of proportion to the actual threat it poses.

Claims that use this term

• The term was coined by Stanley Cohen in his 1973 book Folk Devils and Moral Panics.
• Folk Devils and Moral Panics is a 1972 sociology book by Stanley Cohen — the first book to define the social concept.