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Satanic Panic of the 1980s

A moral panic in the 1980s where fears of satanic ritual abuse led to widespread investigations, prosecutions, and wrongful convictions.

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Jan 15, 2026

How did the 'satanic panic' of the 1980s influence investigations of alleged child abuse cases in the United States?

The satanic panic of the 1980s transformed suspicion into procedure: media-amplified fears and ungrounded frameworks pushed police, social workers and therapists toward highly suggestive interviewing,...