Page 52 - Forensic News Journal Jan Feb 2018

Three Faces of Satanic Ritual Abuse

Dr. Finkelhor and his as- assailants were not suffer- religious portrayals were
sociates created specifical- ing from psychiatric ill- elements of planned in-

ly defined segments with ness or sexually motivat- timidation tactics.
a nomenclature describing ed, but engaged in these

their motivations. heinous acts for religious/ In addition to sexually
spiritual devotion. abusing their pediatric vic-
1) His first category was tims physically, they likely

defined as True Cult- 2) The second category experienced gratification
Based Ritualism. This defined by Dr. Finkelhor from sadistic psychologi-

segment of SRA cal victimiza-
included children tion. As preda-
who were abused as tor sociopaths

fodder honoring a victimize others
larger spiritual being. void of remorse,

Because this segment they also imple-
engaged in spiritual ment tactics
pursuits, victimiza- and strategies

tion involved others increasing the
adding the goal of a victim’s level

social objective as of fear reducing
well. Of the 13% of their potential
alleged RA episodes, of disclosing the

this category of cult abuse to an adult
based involved per- Photo Courtesy of google.com or loved one.

petrators engaged in child was perpetrators engaged
victimization for spiritual, in what he defined as 3) The third and possibly
metaphysical, and/or re- Psuedo-Ritualism. Of the easiest profile to concep-

ligious based belief sys- three categories he sub- tualize as a psychologist is
tems. divided, these assailants Dr. Finkelhor’s category

were true sociopaths and of perpetrators he defined
This segment of offend- psychopaths motivated by as engaging in Psycholog-
ers included spiritual and the goal of sexual grati- ical Ritualism. Unlike the

paranormal components fication and sadistic fan- perpetrator motivated by
and occurred in a social tasy. For these deviant spiritual connection with

group dynamic more than predators, their theatre of social objectives or the
the other offenders. These spiritual, paranormal, and sociopath seeking sexual

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