Panics

Panics are episodes of sudden, intense fear or alarm that can affect individuals or groups. The term encompasses both internal experiences, such as panic attacks, and external phenomena, including mass panics and moral panics, in which fear or concern spreads through a population or social group. Panics are influenced by physiological responses, cognitive processes, and social dynamics, and their trajectory depends on how information is perceived and communicated.

Individually, panic attacks are discrete periods of overwhelming fear with physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, and chest discomfort. They often peak within minutes and may occur in people with anxiety disorders, after trauma, or during extreme stress. Treatments include cognitive-behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), and techniques to reduce arousal and manage symptoms.

Mass panics are collective responses wherein fear or concern spreads among many individuals, leading to behavioral changes such as stockpiling, avoidance, or crowding. They can be triggered by perceived threats to safety, health scares, or rumors amplified by media and social networks. The spread of fear often follows patterns of social contagion, with perceptions of risk shaped by information quality, authority trust, and prior beliefs.

Moral panics describe episodes in which media coverage, political actors, and public discourse amplify concern about a perceived threat to social norms or values. They are characterized by exaggerated warnings, calls for policy responses, and demands for moral cleansing. Notable historical examples include panics about satanic ritual abuse in the 1980s and 1990s, or debates around youth culture and crime in later years.

Scholars in psychology, sociology, and communication study panics to understand how fear develops and spreads, and to improve risk communication and emergency response. Effective management emphasizes credible information, transparent updates, and actions that reduce real risk while avoiding unnecessary alarm.