Moral panic

High school (ages 12+)
Thinking & Learning

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/moral-panic

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a moral panic?A moral panic happens when many people in a town or country become very scared about something that might not be as dangerous as they think. It makes the fear bigger than the real risk.
2. How does the media help a moral panic grow?The media tells stories in a dramatic way that makes the problem look bigger. This helps more people feel scared and want the government to act.

Folk Devil: A person or group scapegoated and demonized as a threat to societal values and norms.
Moral Entrepreneurs: Individuals or groups who actively campaign to define social issues as moral problems and advocate for social control.
Sensationalism: The use of exciting or shocking stories and details to attract public attention and interest.
Social Control: Mechanisms and practices used by society to regulate individual and group behavior and ensure conformity.