Interviewing Abused and Traumatized Children

Abstract

Interviewing young traumatized children, particularly those traumatized by physical and sexual abuse, is difficult, not only because of children's recall deficiencies, but more often because standard interviewing formats can be ineffective with economically disadvantaged and culturally different children. Economically disadvantaged children's exposure to different family interaction patterns and control-dominated childrearing styles can affect their ability to respond to both verbal and non-verbal interviewing techniques. In addition, normal children's familiarity with the material to be remembered, their motivation to remember, their cognitive style and their communication skill all influence interview outcomes. Suggestions are included for improving non-leading interview methods with young children using both verbal and non-verbal techniques.