NCJ Number
141817
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 108 Dated: (Winter 1992) Pages: 901-914
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A sample of eight adolescent satanists currently hospitalized in a psychiatric facility in New England were studied to determine whether they possessed common personal or family characteristics that would distinguish them from a comparable sample of hospitalized adolescents with no satanic involvement.
Abstract
The subjects were identified by hospital staff by several criteria: satanic symbols displayed on clothing, practice of satanic rituals, use of spells, nonpsychotic claims to have levitated or talked to the devil, and in-depth descriptions of their satanic involvement. The subjects and a matched control group were evaluated on their psychosocial histories and the results of several standardized tests including the Tasks of Emotional Development, Rorschach, and Bender Gestalt. The results showed that the youths involved in satanism tended to be from families devoid of a father figure and a nurturing, supportive mother. These youths were alienated, lacked an acceptable self-image, often evidenced conflicted sibling relationships, exhibited compulsive behavior, and suffered from depression. Interventions designed to strengthen the parent-child relationship and the family's sense of involvement, as well as strategies to help the adolescent develop a positive identity, are recommended. A successful treatment will provide a sense of safety for the youth as well as physical and emotional separation from the cult figure. 2 tables and 50 references