1994/09/01 by Mary deYoung · 3 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending #Psychology of Social Influence #Crime, Deviance, and Social Control
paper · doi:10.1002/bsl.2370120408
openalex publication_date 1994/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract The last decade has witnessed the spread across the country of allegations of satanic ritual abuse of children. The allegations are so horrific that a moral crusade comprised largely of psychotherapists, survivors, religious fundamentalists, and law enforcement professionals has risen up in response to them. This paper dissects the claim of the moral crusade that satanic ritual abuse of children is an exigent social problem, analyzes the empirical content of the behavioral science that has grown around this claim, and reveals the symbolic content of the claim. The article concludes with a discussion of the impact this moral crusade is having on the law.