Why We Keep Falling For Moral Panics

Moral Panics as Effort Shields: Why Outrage Replaces Action

Why do we grab onto moral panics so eagerly, and then quietly drop them the moment they stop being convenient? In this episode, host Leslie Poston, Ph.D., introduces the concept of the 'effort shield' and argues that moral panics serve a psychological function most people never examine. Drawing on Stanley Cohen's foundational work, system justification theory, and the Semmelweis effect, she walks through four case studies spanning technology and policy to show how the pattern repeats, who profits from it, and what it costs us. If you've ever wondered why the same cycle of outrage keeps happening without anything actually changing, this one's for you.

00:00 Stranger Danger to Uber

01:04 What Moral Panics Do

02:24 Effort Shields Explained

05:14 Stranger Danger Myth

07:58 Video Games Scapegoat

10:44 Social Media Panic

12:29 KOSA and Policy Fallout

13:50 Anti Abortion Effort Shield

16:42 Pattern Across Examples

18:01 Why Panics Persist