THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SATANIC CULT INVOLVEMENT: AN ...

S had a Catholic upbringing, but never [The absence of a constant good ILonely,
attended Church. He was an unhappy internal object creates the yearning for alienated, empty.
adolescent, striving for knowledge that an idealised figure (God) who would
would connect him to the world around connect him to split-off parts ofhimself
him. His spiritual questions concerning and heal his schizoid detachment
his origins and the existence of God were isolation] .
not adequately addressed by Catholicism.
His participation in Catechism classes
ended when, angered by Christian
spirituality, he spontaneously destroyed his
Bible and religious instruction materials.
Yearning,
frustration.
Idealised
projected object
(God).
21,22,24,
25
S was introduced to Satanism by his only My friends wish to take me somewhere I Hopeful.
school friends, who invited him to a social I will fit in and relate to others, and
gathering, promising that he would be able trust me to keep this arrangement
to relate comfortably to the people there. secret.
His friends warned him that he would have
to maintain strict secrecy about what he
might witness, and S felt that they trusted
him in this regard.
Gratification.
Caring friends.
20,26,27,
28,29,30,
31
The large social gathering turned into a [S felt drawn to Satanism by the IEmpty, callous, I Yearning.
religious ritual in which an animal was prospect of narcissistic fusion with an destructive.
sacrificed and it's blood imbibed by the idealised parental figure who would fill
participants. S, experiencing himselfto be his inner emptiness and heal his
callous and destructive, was not frightened schizoid alienation].
witnessing the sacrifice. He felt drawn to
Satanism by his friends' promises that
Satan would answer all his spiritual
questions and satisfy his every need.
Idealised
parental figure.
32,33,34,
35.
3