Satanic Abuse, False Memories, Weird Beliefs and Moral Panics
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by City Research Online Waterhouse, R.T. (2014). Satanic abuse, false memories, weird beliefs and moral panics. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City University London) City Research Online Original citation: Waterhouse, R.T. (2014). Satanic abuse, false memories, weird beliefs and moral panics. (Unpublished Doctoral thesis, City University London) Permanent City Research Online URL: http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/11871/ Copyright & reuse City University London has developed City Research Online so that its users may access the research outputs of City University London's staff. Copyright © and Moral Rights for this paper are retained by the individual author(s) and/ or other copyright holders. All material in City Research Online is checked for eligibility for copyright before being made available in the live archive. URLs from City Research Online may be freely distributed and linked to from other web pages. Versions of research The version in City Research Online may differ from the final published version. Users are advised to check the Permanent City Research Online URL above for the status of the paper. Enquiries If you have any enquiries about any aspect of City Research Online, or if you wish to make contact with the author(s) of this paper, please email the team at [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 sua of the oigis ad spead of the “atai pai ad soe hief lais-akes . 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 .. Iestigatig The Makig of a “atai Mth ...................................................................... 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 .. The eo as .............................................................................................................. 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 .........................................................................................................................