moral panic
Alarmism – Excessive or exaggerated alarm about a real or imagined threat
blood libel – False claim that Jews killed Christians to use blood in ceremonies
List of common misconceptions
conspiracy theory – Attributing events to secret plots instead of more probable explanation
List of conspiracy theories
deviance (sociology) – Action or behavior that violates social norms
List of mass hysteria cases
Witch-hunt – Search for witchcraft or subversive activity