ADMJ 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Moral Panic, Meth Mouth
Document Summary
A witch hunt occurs any time a group of people persecutes another group unfairly, usually blaming that group for larger problems. Ex aids crisis blaming gay people for aids outbreak (60s) Ex people of color and police, carding. There was no actual increase of witches. Laws do not come into play cause they are instantly required, but rather cause people have something to gain or are afraid. Exaggerated outburst of public concern about an issue that appears to threaten the social order. Panic is based on the perception that some individual or group is dangerous and is threatening society. Unless something is done this could lead to the moral breakdown of society. Level of fear doesn"t always match the actual level of threat (perception) Saw this during demonic period there were no witches to blame. Can be a person, group, episode/epidemic or activity.
