Perverts, delinquents, and psychopaths: Moral panics in post war America

Social and cultural changes in Post War America produced three distinct yet overlapping moral panics during the 1950s: the sexual psychopath scare, the juvenile delinquency outrage, and the anti-smut crusade. The news media, all levels of government, and various sociological and psychological experts reinforced public anxiety over these issues. The climate of the Cold War provides an explanation for this hysteria, and the exaggerated responses of individuals and communities. Rather than confronting matters such as national strength and security on a large scale, many Americans focused on smaller concerns like sex and violence in comic books. Moral panics ultimately represented a reaction to perceived threats to the home and the well being of children in this period