A Critical Evaluation of the Factual Accuracy and Scholarly Foundations of The Witch-Hunt Narrative

Journal of Interpersonal Violence
James M WoodKeith Hampton

Abstract

We comment on The Witch-Hunt Narrative ( TWHN) by Cheit. As its first hypothesis, TWHN argues that most of the famous ritual child abuse cases of the 1980s and 1990s were not really witch-hunts at all. In response, we criticize the TWHN definition of a witch-hunt as overly narrow and idiosyncratic. Based on the scholarly literature, we propose 10 criteria for identifying a witch-hunt. We rate four well-known ritual child abuse cases with these criteria and show they were classic witch-hunts. As its second hypothesis, TWHN argues that most defendants in child ritual abuse cases were guilty or probably guilty. In response, we point out many instances in which TWHN has omitted or mischaracterized important facts or ignored relevant scientific information running contrary to its hypotheses. We conclude that TWHN is often factually inaccurate and tends to make strong assertions without integrating relevant scholarly and scientific information. Scholars should approach the book with caution.

References

Jan 1, 1988·The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal·W L WhittingtonJ S Knapp
Mar 1, 1983·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·M J Robinson, T R Oberhofer
May 1, 1995·Current Biology : CB·L D Hurst
Jul 1, 1994·Journal of Clinical Periodontology·S JenkinsR G Newcombe
Oct 1, 1993·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·J N Cohn
Aug 8, 2007·Vaccine·Stephen Ward, Angus Dalgleish
Nov 23, 2007·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Ross E Cheit, David Mervis
Mar 8, 2008·Diseases of the Colon and Rectum·Johannes JongenRudolf A Herbst
Jan 16, 2013·Pediatric Annals·Stan L Block
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Kathleen Coulborn Faller

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Citations

Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Ross E Cheit

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Software Mentioned

TWHN
Frontline
Braga

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