Imprecision About Body Mechanics When Child Witnesses Are Questioned About Sexual Abuse

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052199794
Author(s):  
Colleen Sullivan ◽  
Suzanne St. George ◽  
Stacia N. Stolzenberg ◽  
Shanna Williams ◽  
Thomas D. Lyon
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
The Body ◽  
Level Of Detail ◽  
Child Witnesses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Polarity Items

In child sexual abuse cases, a central part of the child’s testimony is their description of the abuse episode. However, it is often difficult for children to describe the body mechanics of abuse, and miscommunications are likely to occur. In the present study, we examined questions about the mechanics of abuse in trial transcripts ( N = 63) to identify sources of miscommunication ( N = 130) between attorneys and children (5–12 years old, M age at trial = 9.44, SD = 1.97). We found that both attorneys and children used imprecise language, which led to miscommunication. Specifically, the imprecise use of sexual terminology and the word “touch,” polarity items, broad open-ended questions, anaphora and elliptical questions, and “how” questions led to imprecision in attorneys’ questions. Imprecise attorney questions often elicited underinformative answers from children, including misinterpretations of the grain size (i.e., level of detail) requested. In response to these underinformative answers, attorneys at times asked highly focused and leading questions, which led to further miscommunications. Implications and recommendations for future research on how best to elicit details about the mechanics of abuse from children are discussed.

Preventing child sexual abuse and the use of child abuse images: the Prevention Project Dunkelfeld as an international perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus M. Beier
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Child Pornography ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
The Body ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sexual Offences

Paedophilia—a sexual preference for the body scheme of pre-pubescent children—is defined as a disorder within the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) of the World Health Organization as well as within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association. Contrary to popular belief, not all sex offenders who target children are paedophiles, and not all paedophiles commit sexual offences. But quite obviously paedophilia is an emotionally charged and controversial topic, which might be an explanation for putting it out of focus within the healthcare system. Mental health professionals are mainly (and worldwide) not well trained in terms of assessment methods and intervention techniques available to develop and implement effective policies and practices. This presents an obstacle for prevention, in that proactive strategies to protect children from child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by online offences, such as the consumption or distribution of child abusive images (so-called child pornography), which emphasises the internationally relevant dimension of the issue. The article will address key concerns and questions in dealing with this clinically relevant population, offer insights into a primary prevention approach developed in Germany, and discuss the situation on a European level.

scholarly journals Victims and Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse: Abusive Contact and Penetration Experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9593
Author(s):  
Marta Ferragut ◽  
Margarita Ortiz-Tallo ◽  
Maria J. Blanca
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Male Victims ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Female Perpetrator

Child sexual abuse (CSA) includes abusive contact experiences, which habitually impact the victim’s whole life. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of six CSA experiences with physical contact, including penetration, in a representative sample of the Spanish population. Participants were 1071 Spanish adults (53% males; Mage: 45.37) who completed the Child Sexual Abuse Experiences Questionnaire. The victim’s age at the first episode, the perpetrator’s characteristics, and the number of times that each experience occurred were analyzed, taking into account gender differences. Results were reported for every experience independently. The most prevalent age at the first experience was from 6 years old onwards, but with differences in some experiences. The abuses usually happened more than once, committed by the same person. The most prevalent perpetrator is a male, although a female perpetrator is more prevalent in male victims. Most of the abuses were committed by an adult acquaintance, a strange adult, and other minors, with some gender differences. The implications of the results concerning every CSA experience are discussed, highlighting their value for future research and practice, the design of preventive programs, and early detection of CSA.

scholarly journals The Productivity of Wh- Prompts in Child Forensic Interviews

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (13) ◽  
pp. 2007-2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth C. Ahern ◽  
Samantha J. Andrews ◽  
Stacia N. Stolzenberg ◽  
Thomas D. Lyon
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Witnesses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Forensic Interviews ◽  
Investigative Interviews ◽  
Practitioner Training ◽  
Rapport Building

Child witnesses are often asked wh- prompts (what, how, why, who, when, where) in forensic interviews. However, little research has examined the ways in which children respond to different wh- prompts, and no previous research has investigated productivity differences among wh- prompts in investigative interviews. This study examined the use and productivity of wh- prompts in 95 transcripts of 4- to 13-year-olds alleging sexual abuse in child investigative interviews. What–how questions about actions elicited the most productive responses during both the rapport building and substantive phases. Future research and practitioner training should consider distinguishing among different wh- prompts.

The Debate about Delayed Memories of Child Sexual Abuse

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Zerbe Enns ◽  
Cheryl L. McNeilly ◽  
Julie Madison Corkery ◽  
Mary S. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Ethical Practices ◽  
The Public ◽  
Adequate Knowledge

The debate about delayed memories of child sexual abuse has generated strong emotions and has polarized many psychologists and members of the public. At times, individuals have adopted absolute positions without adequate knowledge of the complex issues involved. This article provides information about the current debate regarding the veracity of delayed memories of child sexual abuse, describes the historical context in which this controversy occurs, discusses the growth and development of psychotherapy for trauma survivors, and reviews the theoretical and empirical literature relevant to abuse memories. The article also outlines recommendations about foundations of knowledge and interventions that will help psychologists engage in competent and ethical practices with clients and generates an initial set of recommendations for future research, training, and social change.

Sexual Abuse Within Employment Settings: A Comparison of Work-Related, Intra- and Extra-Familial Child Molesters

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 524-542
Author(s):  
Diana M. Falkenbach ◽  
Antonia Foehse ◽  
Elizabeth Jeglic ◽  
Cynthia Calkins ◽  
Linsey Raymaekers
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Child Molesters ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Victim Selection ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Similarities And Differences

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a serious problem not only in the community but also in institutional settings such as youth-serving organizations, churches, and schools. Although research has started to examine the problem of abuse in institutional settings, there remains a dearth of information about the nature and context of CSA in different employment settings, including those that do not specifically cater to children. In addition, research on the similarities and differences between perpetrators who work with children and other sex offenders is scarce. As such, the present study compared offenders on variables relating to financial/employment lifestyle stability, risk/dangerousness level, abuse opportunity, and victim selection. Data revealed that child abusers who worked with children tended to be better educated, were less likely to be married, had fewer nonsexual convictions, and were more likely to abuse male post-pubescent children compared with intra- and extra-familial offenders who did not work with children. Implications for future research, prevention of CSA, and clinical practice are discussed.

Child Sexual Abuse as a Unique Risk Factor for the Development of Psychopathology: The Compounded Convergence of Mechanisms

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie G. Noll
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Emotion Dysregulation ◽  
Sexual Offending ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Access To Treatment

Meta-analytic, population cohort, prospective, and clinical studies provide systematic evidence that child sexual abuse accounts for unique variation in several deleterious outcomes. There is strong evidence for psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, and mixed evidence for personality disorders. Evaluation of sex-specific outcomes shows strong evidence for teenage childbearing, sexual revictimization, and sexual dysfunction and mixed evidence for heightened sexual behaviors and sexual offending. This review further demonstrates not only that survivors suffer the noxious impact of traumatic sexualization but that additional transdiagnostic mechanisms, including the biological embedding of stress, emotion dysregulation, avoidance, and insecure attachment, converge to compound risk for deleterious outcomes. A road map to enhance the rigor of future research is outlined, and specific recommendations for evidence-based policy making to boost prevention efforts and increase access to treatment are discussed. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 17 is May 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Enhancing evidence-based treatment of child sexual abuse material offenders: The development of the CEM-COPE Program

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Henshaw ◽  
Chelsea Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Sexual Offender ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Offender Treatment ◽  
Recidivism Rates ◽  
Treatment Considerations

Recent research suggests that child sexual abuse material (CSAM) offenders have distinct characteristics and intervention needs when compared to contact sexual offenders. As such, many sexual offender treatment programs may not be suitable for CSAM offenders without a history of contact offences. This paper describes the development of the CEM-COPE (Coping with Child Exploitation Material Use) Program. We discuss CSAM offender characteristics, recidivism rates and treatment considerations, before outlining the rationale, specifications and underpinnings of the CEM-COPE Program. Challenges in this research area and considerations for future research are also addressed.

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