In addition to examining individual morality, Miller also explores how society reacts to events within its community. Through the girls' initial allegations and the ensuing panic, Miller illustrates how peer pressure can drive people to engage in actions they know are wrong. Furthermore, the community's reaction to these claims shows how easily stories can be distorted, leading to unjust blame. Miller links the mass hysteria in Salem to the community's strong religious zeal and rigid views on sexuality. The girls' fear of punishment for dancing and singing underscores the strict behavioral codes they must follow.

Despite these restrictions, the town is not free from sexual scandals: the illicit affair between Abigail and John Proctor is a key element of the play and contributes to the tragic series of events. Miller may be suggesting that such severe religious codes suppress emotions, which eventually manifest in forbidden acts. The widespread panic among the young girls could be seen as an outburst of long-repressed sexual feelings and desires.

Nicholas Hytner, known for The Madness of King George, directed the 1996 film adaptation of The Crucible, for which Miller wrote the screenplay. In his introduction to the Penguin edition of the screenplay, Hytner emphasized this theme. He stated, "a community that denies to its young any outlet for the expression of sexuality is asking for trouble." Through the events of the play, Miller appears to warn against extreme religious and political fanaticism by showing the potential emotional eruptions—and the disastrous consequences—that can occur when all forms of sexual expression are repressed.