A Response to Articles and Commentaries on The Witch-Hunt Narrative

Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Ross E Cheit

Abstract

The articles and comments in this issue bear out the enduring impact of The Witchhunt Narrative. There is not sufficient space to acknowledge or respond to most of this feedback. This response corrects an error that was identified by one commenter and it responds to questions raised by another commenter about my analysis of the "Concerned Scientists" brief. This response also documents how Wood, Nathan, and others have misapplied the term ritual abuse, misstated the facts of many cases, and promoted "mythical numbers" that significantly exaggerate the number of false convictions. These critics are wrong about the only three cases they discuss in detail. The McMartin Preschool case began with credible evidence of child sexual abuse that continues to be distorted by critics. The Keller case began with even stronger medical evidence that is not diminished by the dubious and incomplete "retraction" of the Emeregency Room doctor. The Fuster case involved overwhelming evidence of abuse, medical and testimonial, that continues to be distored or overlooked by critics. Those who promote the witchhunt narrative rely on selective use of evidence to reach an apparently predetermined result. That is politics and advocacy, not scholarship. T...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1983·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·M J Robinson, T R Oberhofer
Aug 11, 2005·Journal of Medical Microbiology·Sarah Alexander, Catherine Ison
Apr 22, 2015·Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community·Carol J SpauldingPeter S Murano
Apr 26, 2016·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·Bethany L Brand, Linda McEwen
Jul 13, 2016·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Randell Alexander
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Nancy Beasley Lamb
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Frederic G Reamer
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Karen M Staller
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·James M WoodKeith Hampton
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Erna Olafson

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Citations

Feb 12, 2020·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·Johanna SchröderPeer Briken
Mar 1, 2017·Journal of Interpersonal Violence·Colleen Friend, Susan M Snyder
Nov 6, 2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Johanna SchröderPeer Briken

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