The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall Episode 3: Moral (Panic) Entrepreneurship
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Nov 3, 2025 Mary DeYoung, an emerita sociology professor and expert on deviance, dives deep into the McMartin case and the satanic panic of the 1980s. She discusses her shocking discoveries about the gravity of false allegations surrounding ritual abuse in preschools. Mary highlights how fear was amplified by sensational media coverage and misguided expert testimonies. She examines the suggestibility of children in interviews and reveals systemic failures in addressing real inter-family abuse. Ultimately, Mary reflects on lessons learned and the regulatory changes spurred by this chaotic period.
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How McMartin Sparked A National Panic
- The McMartin case introduced satanic ritual abuse as a novel social fear that spread nationally through media and experts.
- That fear reframed ordinary daycare anxieties into a moral panic fueled by sensational claims and authorities' endorsements.
Expert Declines Without Access To Evidence
- Mary DeYoung was invited to testify without access to interview tapes or transcripts and declined.
- She refused because she could not give an informed opinion without reviewing the interviews firsthand.
Conferences And TV Drove Expert Influence
- Interviewers and caseworkers spread techniques and claims through conferences, workshops, and TV, accelerating belief.
- Television talk shows amplified these messages, making moral entrepreneurs culturally influential.
