Sex Therapy

The first scientist to confront society with the central role of sex in human development was Freud. His method, the detailed and in depth analysis of the childhood experiences of a handful of upper class Viennese women, may be suspect by today's standard of scientific inquiry. It was, however, the first systematic attempt to study an area of human behaviour which was wrapped in mystery, prejudice and fear. His crucial and most controversial book,Three Essays on the Sexual Theory,was published in 1905 and branded at the time as an obscene book. A disclaimer from the publisher was attached to the English translation of this book which read: “The sale of this book is limited to Members of the Medical, Scholastic, Legal and Clerical professions”. If read together with Freud's earlier book,The Interpretation of Dreams(1899), these two books give the distinct impression that Freud did discover the problem of sexual abuse.

Download Full-text

ACEs policy and adults: The missing role of sexual abuse

Scottish Affairs ◽

10.3366/scot.2020.0342 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 529-537

Author(s):

Sarah Nelson

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽

Adult Survivors ◽

Health Issues ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Health And Wellbeing ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Mental And Physical Health

Traumatised adults have been rather neglected in policy on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in comparison with children. Yet the key message from the original ACE studies was the need to change the way adults with ill health are heard, understood, diagnosed and treated. Within ACEs policy, childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has also had marginal attention. This paper traces how adult survivors of CSA provided the spark for the first and subsequent ACE studies, describing the serious mental and physical health issues this trauma can bring throughout the lifecourse. It raises the possibility that some of the original ten ACEs may be more impactful to health and wellbeing over the lifecourse than others and should receive greater priority in terms of prevention and recovery. A series of questions is asked about how physical and mental health services are responding, and how they may need to be monitored in order to fully integrate the needs of CSA survivors into current Scottish ACEs policy.

Download Full-text