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An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Children's religious knowledge: implications for understanding satanic ritual abuse allegations
G S Goodman1, J A Quas, B L Bottoms
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis 95616-8686, USA.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|January 10, 1998
Summary
Children possess general knowledge of satanism, influenced by age and media. While direct knowledge of ritual abuse is limited, their existing knowledge may prompt investigations or allegations.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Sociology of Religion
- Media Studies
Background:
- Understanding children's comprehension of religious and potentially harmful concepts is crucial.
- Satanism and related themes in media raise concerns about children's exposure and knowledge acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess children's knowledge of religious, particularly satanic, concepts.
- To investigate the impact of age, religious upbringing, family, and media on this knowledge.
Main Methods:
- A structured interview was conducted with 48 children aged 3–16.
- Inquiries focused on knowledge of religion, religious symbols, and media with religious/horror themes.
Main Results:
- Children demonstrated general knowledge of satanism, increasing with age.
- Exposure to horror media correlated with nonreligious knowledge, while satanic media exposure linked to satanic knowledge.
Conclusions:
- Children generally lack detailed knowledge of satanic ritual abuse to fabricate allegations independently.
- However, existing knowledge of satanism and violence may influence investigations or allegations.
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