RT Article
T1 Rethinking occultism and crime: satanism, the occult and youth gang subcultures in the global and South African context: research
JF Acta criminologica
VO 31
IS 2
SP 168
OP 185
A1 Petrus, Theodore
A2 Roelofse, C.
A2 Maritz, Leanné
A2 Phillips, Ashwill Ramon
LA English
YR 2018
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1744500908
AB The relationship between occultism and crime has often been explored in the criminological literature within the context of ritualistic crimes. In many instances, such crimes have been linked to Satanism and the occult (in its various guises). In the United States (US), Perlmutter’s (2004) text on religious terrorism and ritualistic crimes sought to provide some insights into the ritualised context of occult-related crimes and identified various subgroups whose criminal activities are underpinned by specific religious and ritualistic beliefs and practices. In the South African context, various scholars have explored occult-related crimes ranging from Satanism-related crime to African witchcraft-related crime. However, in the South African context, little work has been done on the relationship between the occult and crime within the context of youth gang subcultures. This discussion seeks to contribute to this under-researched issue by arguing for a rethinking of occultism and crime. It is argued that the emergence of occult beliefs and practices among youth gangs in South Africa necessitates a new way of approaching the occult and crime relationship, one that seeks to apply perspectives on this relationship to gang subcultures. This suggested rethinking of the occultism and crime relationship is timely, especially considering the apparent rise in occult-related dynamics among youth gang subcultures in South Africa and elsewhere.
K1 African witchcraft
K1 Occult
K1 Occult-related crimes
K1 Satanism
K1 Youth gang subcultures