The concept of moral panics in contemporary sociology

U ovom se teorijskom radu nastoji analizirati te kritički osvrnuti na koncept moralne panike. Značenje samog koncepta jest da je to „društvena situacija u kojoj se temeljem izoliranih, preuveličanih ili na senzacionalistički način protumačenih incidenata stvara i/ili nastoji stvoriti uvjerenje kako društvu, državi i/ili temeljima moralnoga poretka prijeti opasnost“ (http://struna.ihjj.hr/naziv/moralna-panika/50630/, 20.7.2023). Stanley Cohen jedan je od najzaslužnijih znanstvenika za razvoj ovog koncepta. On u svom djelu Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The creation of the Mods and Rockers iz 1972. godine, sociološki opisuje i razrađuje koncept moralne panike koja se pojavila u vrijeme nastajanja supkultura modsa i rockera. Moralna panika predstavlja sukob „narodnih demona“ (prema Cohenu, 1972.) i „mase“ koja se zbog određenog razloga osjeća ugroženo i napadnuto. Posebna se pažnja u ovom radu pridaje pojašnjavanju različitih primjera (kako na globalnoj razini, tako i na razini Republike Hrvatske). Primjeri se odnose na: migrante, navijačke skupine, rave scenu, ulične pljačke i tako dalje. U radu se ističu kritički pristupi konceptu moralne panike od kojih su neki važniji: Chas Crither, William Patry, Tana Dineen. Zaključno, u radu su prezentirani noviji i aktualniji primjeri s kojima se pojedinac susreće u suvremenom društvu. Zbog izloženosti brojnim, potencijalnim moralnim panikama poželjno je da svaki društveni akter često promišlja o svojem djelovanju, a pogotovo oni na „višim“ društvenim pozicijama.This theoretical paper tries to analyze and critically reflect on the concept of moral panic. The meaning of the concept itself is that it is a social situation in which, on the basis of isolated, exaggerated or sensationalistic interpreted incidents, one creates and/or tries to create the belief that society, the state and/or the foundations of the moral order are threatened by danger" (http://struna.ihij .hr/naziv/moralna-panika/50630/ 20.7.2023). Stanley Cohen is one of the most credited scientists for the development of this concept. In his work Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The creation of the Mods and Rockers from 1972, he sociologically describes and elaborates the concept of moral panics that appeared during the emergence of the subcultures of mods and rockers. Moral panic represents a conflict between people's demons" (according to Cohen, 1972) and the masses" who feel threatened and attacked for some reason. In this paper, special attention is paid to the clarification of different examples (both at the global level and at the level of the Republic of Croatia). Examples include: migrants, fan groups, rave scene, street robberies and so on. The paper highlights critical approaches to the concept of moral panic, some of which are more important: Chas Crither. William Patry, Tana Dineen. In conclusion, the paper presents recent and more current examples that an individual encounters in modern society. Due to the exposure to numerous potential moral panics, it is desirable that every social actor often reflects on his actions, especially those in higher social positions