Urban Legends 4 | When Legends Bleed into Reality: The Satanic Panic & Real-World Harm

What happens when a scary story stops being fun and starts ruining lives? This episode of Into the World of Urban Legends investigates the real-world impact of folklore, where myths can lead to modern-day witch hunts and tragic violence. Join us as we explore: The Satanic Panic: A deep dive into the mass hysteria of the 1980s, where unsubstantiated stories of satanic ritual abuse in daycares led to wrongful convictions and destroyed lives. Moral Panics: We break down the social and psychological forces that allow a rumor to escalate into a nationwide panic, turning innocent people into scapegoats. Ostension: Learn about the strange phenomenon where people stop just telling legends and start acting them out, from benign "legend tripping" to the tragic Slender Man stabbing. The Psychology of Belief: We analyze why individuals and societies sometimes allow stories to dictate their actions, blurring the line between myth and reality. This is a sobering look at the tangible power of the stories we tell, and a crucial lesson in the importance of critical thinking. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don’t forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!