Cohens Moral panic

Moral Panic - "a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges as a threat to scoietal values and interests"

Features of a moral panic:

• Concern - behaviour of a particular group is seen as a threat
• Volatility - the situation erupts dramatically
• Hostility - "folk devils" are constructed to create a diversion
• Consensus - widespread acceptance of this threat
• Disproportionality - wild exageration of the evidence