What is satanic panic? Conspiracy theory explained

DEVIL worship and the suspicion of compromised morals are the themes that drive the satanic panic.

Since the 20th century, conspiracy theorists have attributed several headline-making events to devil worship.

What is satanic panic?

During the 1980s, satanic panic became a mainstream phenomenon.

The conspiracy theory's beliefs are traced back to Canadian psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder's 1980 book Michelle Remembers.

In Michelle Remembers, Pazder claims his wife and patient Michelle Smith was a target of satanist rituals.

Similar claims to the ones made by Pazder in his book began to rise through the later parts of the decade.

All over the United States, people reported that they or someone they knew was a victim of physical or sexual abuse and that the abuse was a part of satanist rituals.

The allegations involved theories of occult worship and sacrifices that were supposedly organized by wealthy and elite-status figures who sexually or physically victimized people in order to obtain what they desired.

Conspiracy theorists also tied satanic panic to matters of prostitution, pornography, and human sacrifice.

Despite over 12,000 allegations reported to police officials, law enforcement couldn't find tie any of these claims to Satanist cult activity.

Satanic panic also went by other labels such as Satanic ritual abuse, sadistic ritual abuse, ritualistic abuse, and organized abuse.

What is devil worship?

Claims of devil worship and occultist practices are what drive the satanic panic.

Satanism is an ideology based on the religious figure of the same.

Prior to the rise of occultist accusations, the Church of Satan was founded on April 30, 1966.

However, the Church of Satan was not blamed for the cycle of accusations made prominent by conspiracy theorists.

Is satanic panic real?

Pazder's allegations in Michelle Remembers were centered around the psychotherapy practice of recovered-memory therapy.

Since the book's release, medical professionals and psychiatric authorities have discredited the effectiveness of recovered-memory therapy and condemned the practice.

The primary peddler of the satanic panic phenomena in present times comes courtesy of the online far-right extremist group QAnon.

Postings from far-right collective QAnon originated on the website 4Chan in 2017.

The focus of the cult-like group is based on false claims that a secret circle of Satanic, pedophilia-ridden, child sex traffic ring-operating cannibals are to blame for national tragedies.

Radical extremist group QAnon has put their expressions into action, with storming the capitol being an example of how far they will take their antics.