Abuse Quote by Michael Salter
““Despite its popularity amongst critical criminologists, the empirical basis of the moral panic account of sexual abuse has been shown to be substantially untrue. There is no evidence of an increase in reckless or baseless sexual abuse prosecutions during the 1990s, which was supposedly the height of the “moral panic” (Cross, Walsh, Simone, & Jones, 2003).””
About This Quote
Source Journal article: “Moral Panic and Sexual Abuse: A Critical Review” by Michael Salter, Criminology & Public Policy, 2008
The claim that sexual abuse prosecutions surged in the 1990s as part of a moral panic lacks empirical support, challenging the panic narrative.
In simple terms: Data shows no rise in sexual abuse cases in the 1990s.
Key Takeaway
Question sensationalist narratives with evidence.
Themes
crime perception
media influence
policy criticism
evidence based analysis
Mood
skeptical
analytical
inquisitive
Type
academic
critical
informative
When to use this quote
- media reporting
- legal reform
- public education
- research funding
Key Concepts
moral panic
statistical review
social construction
law enforcement
Questions to Reflect On
- How does media framing affect public fear?
- What evidence is needed to validate social theories?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on panic can misguide resources and policy.
