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Moral Panic and Social Justice: A Guide for Analyzing Social Problems
Michael H Eversman1, Jason D P Bird1
1Faculty of Arts and Sciences Network, Social Work, Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ, USA.
Social Work
|April 11, 2017
Summary
Moral panics unjustly target marginalized groups by exaggerating social threats, leading to discriminatory policies. Understanding moral panics helps social workers identify and counter such injustices in policy arenas.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Public Policy
Background:
- Social work historically addresses social justice and policy.
- Exaggerated threats to social cohesion can lead to suppressive policies.
- Moral panics, as defined by Stanley Cohen, involve scapegoating weaker groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze how moral panics influence perceptions of social problems and policy.
- To provide guidance for social workers on identifying unjust targeting of societal groups.
- To synthesize literature on moral panics in U.S. policy relevant to social work.
Main Methods:
- Literature synthesis of theoretical and empirical studies.
- Focus on U.S. policy arenas including illicit drugs, sexuality, and immigration.
- Analysis of how moral panics construct deviance and downplay structural causes.
Main Results:
- Moral panics assign blame and stigma to unpopular groups.
- They foster policies that increase social disparity and injustice.
- Identifying moral panics is crucial for social justice.
Conclusions:
- Social workers must recognize moral panics to prevent unjust policies.
- Understanding these dynamics supports practitioners, advocates, and researchers.
- This work aids in assessing the presence of moral panics in policy.