A historical and theoretical look at ritual abuse laws Part II: Applying an integrated conflict model analysis to the Idaho Baby X Case

Abstract

This article is the second that examines the social construction of ritual abuse statutes that uses the Integrated Conflict Model of law formation. Using content analysis findings based on a qualitative, historical phenomenological interpretation, this piece examines the formation of ritual abuse law in Idaho. Examining circumstances surrounding the satanic panic that took place in the mid-1980s to early 1990s, the article supports the idea that the formation of ritual abuse laws involves structural foundations, public demands for
information, triggering events, and counter-triggering events surrounding a particular case of suspected ritual abuse. It concludes with recommendations for future research concerning law formation processes.