A PAINTED DEVIL - CONSTRUCTING THE SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN PROBLEM

This article uses the social construction theory of Spector and Kitsus e (1973, 1977) to explain and analyze the evolution of satanic ritual abuse of children from cultural lacuna to social problem. The article also contributes to the analysis of social problems by suggesting some cautions that should be taken in examining what often proves to be th e hasty and injudicious construction of social problems that have to d o with violence against children.