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, Casey Klofstad Department of Political Science , University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Olyvia Christley Department of Political Science , Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Amanda Diekman Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences , Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th St., Bloomington, IN 47405 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Adam Enders Department of Political Science , University of Louisville, 205 Arthur Y. Ford Hall, Louisville, KY 40292 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic John Funchion Department of English and American Studies , University of Miami, 1252 Memorial Dr #321, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Ashley Hemm Department of English and American Studies , University of Miami, 1252 Memorial Dr #321, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Sandra Kübler Department of Linguistics , Indiana University, 1020 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Shane Littrell Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy , University of Toronto, The Observatory, 315 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 0A7 , Canada Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Manohar Murthi University of Miami College of Engineering , 1251 Memorial Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Kamal Premaratne University of Miami College of Engineering , 1251 Memorial Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic
, Michelle Seelig Department of Interactive Media , University of Miami, 5100 Brunson Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Daniel Verdear Department of Computer Science , University of Miami, Ungar Bldg, 1365 Memorial Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Stefan Wuchty Department of Computer Science , University of Miami, Ungar Bldg, 1365 Memorial Dr, Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Joseph E Uscinski Department of Political Science , University of Miami, 1300 Campo Sano Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33146 , USA Corresponding author: Email: uscinski@miami.edu Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic
Political Science Quarterly, qqae081, https://doi.org/10.1093/psquar/qqae081
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28 August 2024
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Casey Klofstad, Olyvia Christley, Amanda Diekman, Adam Enders, John Funchion, Ashley Hemm, Sandra Kübler, Shane Littrell, Manohar Murthi, Kamal Premaratne, Michelle Seelig, Daniel Verdear, Stefan Wuchty, Joseph E Uscinski, The New Satanic Panic, Political Science Quarterly, 2024;, qqae081, https://doi.org/10.1093/psquar/qqae081
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Abstract
A moral panic animated by conspiracy theories alleging ritual sex abuse swept through the United States in the 1980s. During that “Satanic Panic,” as it came to be known, people expressed fears of social change regarding gender and sexuality. Beginning in 2022, conservative politicians, pundits, and pastors in the United States levied similar accusations of child grooming, sex trafficking, and satanic sex abuse at the LGBTQ + community, teachers, liberals, and entertainment companies; these accusations were accompanied by repressive legislation and violence. Despite their political salience, little is known about the people who believe these accusations. Using a 2022 U.S. national survey (N = 2,001), we find that up to one-third of Americans believe accusations of satanic cult abuse, government sex trafficking, and an “agenda” to “groom” children into gay or trans lifestyles. These beliefs are correlated with a range of political attitudes (e.g., positive views of Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and white nationalists) and policy preferences (e.g., overturning Roe v. Wade), as well as with normative (e.g., a desire to run for political office) and nonnormative (e.g., the acceptance of political violence) political intentions and behaviors. Regression analysis further reveals that these conspiracy theory beliefs are positively associated with dark psychological traits, antiestablishment orientations, and repressive views toward sex and gender. Our findings suggest that these accusations can spark dehumanization and deadly violence by mobilizing into politics people who possess strong feelings of political efficacy, but also antisocial traits, nonnormative tendencies, and a desire to undermine established political institutions.
LGBTQ+, violence, conspiracy theories, grooming, satanic panic
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