English

ERIC ED343045: Profile of Ritualistic and Religion-Related Abuse Allegations Reported to Clinical Psychologists in the United States.

One of the most shocking claims about child abuse in recent years is that satanic, occult, or ritualistic abuse is occurring and on the rise. To date, no one has attempted to assess the prevalence of claims of such abuse, or to determine the range of cases and the nature of the typical case. This study is currently surveying approximately 41,000 persons and agencies, including all county-level social service, law, and district attorney agencies, as well as a sample of psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers. Data gathered from 2,709 American Psychological Association (APA) clinicians represents a 46% response rate from this group. Preliminary results indicated that less than a third of APA clinical psychologists have encountered cases of ritualistic or religion-related abuse since January 1980. Among those who have encountered cases, the definition of ritualistic abuse varies. The two most common features, forced participation in sexual activities, and abuse repeated in a prescribed manner, have no necessary connection with satanism, the issue that makes ritualistic abuse such a volatile topic. However, 44% of cases viewed as ritualistic do include symbols or obje

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