The Satanic Panic

The Satanic Panic refers to a widespread moral panic that took place primarily in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, but it also had some influence in other parts of the world. This phenomenon was characterized by the fear that satanic cults were operating in secret, abducting, abusing, and even sacrificing children as part of their rituals. The media, some religious groups, and various self-proclaimed experts fueled the hysteria by promoting stories of alleged satanic activities, leading to a number of high-profile legal cases.

The origins of the Satanic Panic can be traced back to the late 1970s, when a series of books and articles began to surface alleging the existence of secretive satanic cults involved in criminal activities. One of the most influential publications was the 1980 book “Michelle Remembers” by psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder and his patient (and later wife) Michelle Smith. The book claimed to be a true account of Smith’s recovered memories of horrific abuse by a satanic cult in her childhood. “Michelle Remembers” became a bestseller and was widely influential in shaping public perceptions of satanic ritual abuse (SRA).

Another crucial factor that contributed to the Satanic Panic was the rise of daytime talk shows and sensationalist news programs that amplified the claims of alleged SRA survivors, self-proclaimed experts, and concerned parents. Geraldo Rivera’s 1988 television special “Devil Worship: Exposing Satan’s Underground” is a prime example of media sensationalism during this time. The program, which claimed that satanic cults were widespread and posed a serious threat to children, was watched by an estimated 20 million viewers and further fueled public anxiety about satanic activity.

As the Satanic Panic unfolded, some mental health professionals, social workers, and law enforcement officers began to take the claims of SRA seriously. Recovered memory therapy, a controversial psychological technique, was used to elicit stories of abuse from patients, which were then taken as evidence of widespread satanic activity. Critics of this technique argue that it is highly suggestive and can lead to the creation of false memories. In 1994, the American Medical Association published a report stating that “the AMA considers recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse to be of uncertain authenticity, which should be subject to external verification” (Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, 1994).

During the height of the Satanic Panic, several high-profile legal cases were brought against individuals accused of participating in SRA. One such case was the McMartin Preschool trial, which took place in California between 1984 and 1990. The case began when a mother accused one of the preschool’s staff of sexually abusing her child. The allegations snowballed, and eventually, seven staff members were accused of abusing hundreds of children as part of satanic rituals. The case became the longest and most expensive trial in American history at that time, but ultimately, all the defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Sociologist Jeffrey Victor, author of “Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend,” argues that the panic was fueled by a combination of factors, including societal anxiety over changing family structures, the influence of religious fundamentalism, and media sensationalism.

1. Recovered memory therapy, used to elicit stories of SRA during the Satanic Panic, has been widely discredited and criticized by experts for its potential to create false memories. Source: American Medical Association, Council on Scientific Affairs (1994).
2. The Satanic Panic led to several high-profile legal cases, including the McMartin Preschool trial, which at the time was the longest and most expensive trial in American history. Despite the hysteria surrounding the case, all defendants were eventually acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Source: The New York Times, “McMartin Case: A Point for the Defense,” October 24, 1990.
3. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an extensive investigation into the allegations of widespread satanic ritual abuse during the 1980s and 1990s. In a 1992 report, FBI Special Agent Kenneth Lanning concluded that there was little or no evidence to support the existence of large-scale SRA. Source: Kenneth Lanning, “Investigator’s Guide to Allegations of ‘Ritual’ Child Abuse,” Behavioral Science Unit, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, FBI Academy, 1992.
4. Sociologist Jeffrey Victor, author of “Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend,” is one such expert who has analyzed the social and psychological factors that contributed to the spread of the panic.

“Satanic Panic: The Creation of a Contemporary Legend” by Jeffrey Victor, which provides a sociological analysis of the panic and the factors that contributed to its spread. The Satanic Panic was a moral panic fueled by societal anxieties, religious fundamentalism, and media sensationalism.