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Satanic Abuse, False Memories, Weird Beliefs and Moral Panics

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Satanic Abuse, False Memories, Weird Beliefs and Moral Panics City Research Online City, University of London Institutional Repository Citation: Waterhouse, R.T. (2014). Satanic abuse, false memories, weird beliefs and moral panics. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City University London) This is the accepted version of the paper. This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link: https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/11871/ Link to published version: Copyright: City Research Online aims to make research outputs of City, University of London available to a wider audience. Copyright and Moral Rights remain with the author(s) and/or copyright holders. URLs from City Research Online may be freely distributed and linked to. Reuse: Copies of full items can be used for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge. 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City Research Online: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/ [email protected] Satanic abuse, false memories, weird beliefs and moral panics Anatomy of a 24-year investigation ROSALIND THERESA WATERHOUSE A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy: A critical analysis offered for the PhD by prior publication At City University London Department of Journalism January 2014 VOLUME I: DISSERTATION Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................. 5 Declaration .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Part 1 – Introduction, contribution to knowledge and summary ........................................................... 8 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 8 1.2 Contribution to knowledge ......................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Purpose of this PhD ..................................................................................................................... 14 Part 2 – A summary of the origins and spread of the Satanic panic and some chief ‘claims-makers’ . 16 2.1 Satanic ritual abuse: definitions. ................................................................................................. 16 2.2 False memories and multiple personalities ................................................................................ 16 2.3 Satan arrives on the scene .......................................................................................................... 19 2.4 International spread ................................................................................................................... 24 Part 3 – My investigations into the myth.............................................................................................. 28 3.1 How it happened ......................................................................................................................... 28 3.2 Methodology and conduct of research ....................................................................................... 32 3.2.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 32 3.2.2 Conduct of research ............................................................................................................. 35 3.2.3 Investigating ‘The Making of a Satanic Myth’ ...................................................................... 38 Part 4 – Theoretical interpretations ..................................................................................................... 43 4.1 How my work relates to the theory and practice of investigative journalism ........................... 43 4.1.1 The role of other journalists in the Satanic panic ................................................................ 43 4.1.2 Historical context of investigative journalism ...................................................................... 44 4.1.3 What is investigative reporting? .......................................................................................... 46 4.1.4 Objectivity ............................................................................................................................ 51 4.1.5 Method ................................................................................................................................ 53 4.1.6 Ethics and investigative techniques ..................................................................................... 55 4.2 How my work relates to the academic literature in the field of psychology on false memories and multiple personalities ................................................................................................................ 58 4.2.1 The ‘memory wars’ .............................................................................................................. 58 4.2.2 Research reviews: false memory ......................................................................................... 60 4.2.3 Recovered memories, multiple personalities, alien abductions and Satanic abuse............ 62 4.3 How my work relates to the academic literature in anomalistic psychology (the study of weird beliefs) ............................................................................................................................................... 65 4.4 How my work relates to the academic literature on moral panics ............................................ 71 4.4.1 Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 71 4.4.2 Models of moral panic theory .............................................................................................. 74 4.4.3 Satanic ritual abuse and moral panic ................................................................................... 76 4.4.4 Aftermath ............................................................................................................................. 80 Part 5 – Analysis of data evidence or outcomes ................................................................................... 84 Part 6 – Critical appraisal of previous work .......................................................................................... 89 6.1 Responses to my work ................................................................................................................ 89 6.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 90 References ............................................................................................................................................ 91 Appendix 1: Critical appraisals ............................................................................................................ 105 A Jean La Fontaine .......................................................................................................................... 105 B Mike Hill ....................................................................................................................................... 106 Appendix 2: Citations of published journalism ................................................................................... 108 A Articles ......................................................................................................................................... 108 B Books ............................................................................................................................................ 108 Appendix 3: List of published and broadcast journalism submitted as my body of published work . 110 3 A Published articles ......................................................................................................................... 110 B Television ..................................................................................................................................... 114 BBC Newsnight ............................................................................................................................ 114 BBC1 Real Story ........................................................................................................................... 114 c. Radio ............................................................................................................................................ 114 d. Film .............................................................................................................................................. 114 e. Book chapter ............................................................................................................................... 114 f. Conference talks .......................................................................................................................... 115 g. Presentations .............................................................................................................................
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