FUNDAMENTALIST RELIGION AND THE MORAL CRUSADE AGAINST SATANISM - THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF DEVIANT-BEHAVIOR

This article presents a symbolic interactionist model of the social dynamics of moral crusades to define a new form of deviant behavior. It identifies the collective behavior processes through which a contemporary legend leads to the social construction of deviant behavior, particularly when underlying sources of social stress activate the search for scapegoats. The cognitive content of scapegoating is constructed when a frame for a perceived threat links a contemporary legend to a current ideology. The contemporary legend enables the claims of moral crusaders to reach a wide audience because their propaganda will appeal to familiar preconceptions of the nature of evil in society. The model was developed from research on the claims-making activity of fundamentalists in the moral crusade against satanic cult crime. Fundamentalist religion plays a central role in the social construction of satanic cult crime because it offers: (1) a receptive ideology, (2) a well-established communication network, and (3) organizational resources for moral crusaders.