Perpetrators Of Child Sexual Abuse Research Articles

Public opinion and knowledge about childhood sexual abuse in a rural community

Objectives: To explore the knowledge and attitudes of the general public about child sexual abuse (CSA) through a population-based survey. Method: A survey was completed by 246 respondents living in Klamath Falls, a small city in rural eastern Oregon. Specific areas of inquiry included who respondents believed were likely perpetrators of CSA, when a child was most likely to disclose sexual abuse, whether respondents believed that children would be truthful, reasons a child might not acknowledge that they had been sexually abused, what respondents knew about how CSA could be diagnosed, and what attitudes respondents thought that a sexually abused child might have towards the perpetrators of their abuse. Finally, respondents were asked how they would report a suspected case of CSA and about their receptivity to personal safety training to prevent CSA. Results: While significant proportions of respondents were fairly knowledgeable about CSA, gaps in knowledge were found in all age groups and ethnic groups. Groups with the most significant knowledge deficits about CSA included men, unmarried respondents, respondents who had not had children, respondents in younger age groups, respondents of Latino descent, and respondents with low incomes or low education. Respondents were most likely to report CSA to their physician or the police. There is community interest in training about CSA and its prevention. Conclusion: These data indicate that significant deficits as well as strengths in knowledge about CSA exist in this rural community, and identify populations to which community education about CSA could be directed.

Bridging the gap: feminist theory and practice reality in work with the perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse has been a focus of concern for feminist writers for over a decade, and social work and probation practitioners are spending an increasing amount of time undertaking intervention with men who sexually abuse children. This paper uses a review of feminist literature which identifies three contested areas in the feminist discussion: theory, power and the fixity of gender, and discusses whether these debates are reflected in any way in the interventions being undertaken with men who sexually abuse children. The conclusion reached is of a distance between theory which draws on a radical patriarchal analysis of child sexual abuse and the practice of those who attempt to work with the perpetrators of such abuse. Although some workers frame their intervention in terms of a patriarchal understanding of society and of the nature of power within this – to this extent following a radical feminist approach – there is a sense in which practitioners’ use of feminist theory is only partial. Thus feminist theory is often presented as unitary and there is a sense in which practitioners who say they are espousing feminism are not in touch with the subtleties of feminist analysis revealed in the literature review. In addition, the logic of the radical feminist perspective is not followed through in practice as there is evidence of a sensitivity to difference which may be aligning practitioners with a post‐modern/post‐structural interpretation of men’s sexual violence towards children.

An exploration of the Sexual and relationship experiences of lesbian survivors of childhood sexual abuse

This study aimed to explore the sexual relationships experienced by a non-clinical group of lesbian women survivors of male perpetrated child sexual abuse (CSA), where the abuse occurred between the ages of eight and 15 years. By adopting a phenomenological approach it was intended that these experiences would be explored through the eyes of the women participating in the study. It was further intended that the study would illuminate an underresearched area, thus offering some guidance to therapists and other professionals working therapeutically with lesbian survivors of CSA. Eight lesbian survivors participated in individual focused interviews, each lasting about one hour. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and subjected to stringent content analysis, with referral back to participants for clarification and verification in keeping with the phenomenological tradition. The study identified several issues which appear to be unique to lesbian survivors, namely woman-to-woman sexual assault, ‘negotiated sex’ and lack of sexual spontaneity in relationships where both women are survivors of CSA, and the concept of a double secret: CSA and lesbianism. Overall, however, the study demonstrated a sense of commonality of experience with those of heterosexual women. This in itself was found to be reassuring because it would appear that the therapeutic signposts and approaches commonly looked for and adopted, when working with heterosexual women survivors, are appropriate. Ultimately it is hoped that the study will help therapists and helpers to provide a quality service to lesbian survivors of CSA, based on evidence rather than supposition and stereotype.

The idealization of women: its role in the minimization of child sexual abuse by females

Objective: The aim was to review the literature on female perpetrated child sexual abuse by highlighting how cultural myths about women inhibit recognition of this much hidden phenomenon. Method: Three sections are presented. Part 1 evaluates evidence concerning beliefs about child sexual abuse by women which minimize the problem. Part 2 provides a theoretical account of psychological processes that are hypothesized to maintain these beliefs. Part 3 illustrates that professionals working in the area of child sexual abuse are not immune to these processes. As a result, recommendations for future professional practices are made. Result: The paper demonstrates that in the context of what is known about child sexual abuse, cultural beliefs which serve to idealize women and minimize their potential harm to children are largely invalid. Conclusion: Individuals are urged to suspend their disbelief about female perpetrated child sexual abuse. Denial of the phenomenon may result in it continuing to be under-reported and trivialized. As this persists the price will ultimately be paid by victims of on-going abuse and survivors of past victimization whose suffering will be compounded by disparagement of the issue.

Female perpetrators of child sexual abuse: A review of the clinical and empirical literature

Although women have long been viewed as offenders in cases of physical child abuse, it is only recently that clinicians and researchers have begun to seriously consider the problem of female-perpetrated sexual abuse of children. The purpose of the present paper is to review existing clinical and empirical literature on female sex offenders, in order to develop a summary profile of female perpetrators that may be of value to professionals involved in the assessment and treatment process.

Measurement of women's child sexual abuse experiences: An empirical demonstration of the impact of choice of measure on estimates of incidence rates and of relationships with pathology

Interpretation and comparison of studies on child sexual abuse (CSA) in women are difficult because of the wide variations in definitions of this phenomenon represented by the measures used. We used data from a sample of 2,003 women to demonstrate the implications of the use of different measures of CSA on reports of incidence rates and the relation between CSA and depression. We used dichotomous measures, measures that take severity of sexual abuse experience into account, and measures that included or excluded similar‐aged peers as possible perpetrators of CSA. The choice of measure of CSA resulted in up to a 300% difference in incidence rates within this sample. Similarly, measures differed in the strength of their relationships to depression.

Abuse perpetrators: a Personal Construct Psychology perspective

Perpetrators of child sexual abuse create many problems for professionals working in the area of therapy and rehabilitation. My therapeutic work often brings me into contact with adult survivors of such abuse. For many of these survivors a central issue is understanding why the abuser chose them as a focus for sexual activity. Personal Construct Psychology is based on the individual's perspective of the world and gives the opportunity to explore similarities and differences between each person's experience of abuse — in this case the perpetrator and the survivor. This paper will explore a few aspects of Personal Construct Ppsychology and examine how the approach can be used to demonstrate the views held by some perpetrators of child sexual abuse and their victims.

Interagency Perspectives on Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrated by Juveniles

Fifty practitioners in five different agencies working with perpetrators of child sexual abuse in a Welsh local authority area were surveyed to explore perspectives on child sexual abuse and practice issues of working with juvenile sexual abusers. The four social work agencies (i.e., child protection, child and family, juvenile justice, and probation) were in considerable agreement on many of the perspectives; however, the police differed substantially from the social work agencies on a number of perspectives. Practice issues highlighted the implications of fundamental differences of perceptions over whether a juvenile abuser is seen as a perpetrator or as a victim. The authors consider the implications of diversion strategies, a feature of work with young offenders, for this particular group of young offenders.

The Challenge Project: A treatment program evaluation for perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Objective: Research on treatment outcome for sex offenders has been poorly designed, with biased sampling, lack of controls, and a failure to define treatment programs, subjects, and outcome measures. This research aimed to compare group and individual treatment outcomes, with particular reference to program compliance and reoffending. Method: The Challenge Project assessed all 80 convicted perpetrators of child sexual abuse in S. E. London over a 2-year period, and followed them up 1 and 2 years later. The 43 perpetrators who were diverted into the community program received weekly standardized cognitive-behavioral treatment over a 1-year period. Subjects were matched on key variables and entered either group or individual therapy. Results: Some treatment effects could be demonstrated in both group and individual therapy, particularly if individual changes in test scores were examined. Two variables were significantly associated with poor treatment compliance: A history of sexual and/or violent offending, and a history of childhood sexual victimization. However, only one subject had been convicted of a further sexual offense—possession of child pornography—at follow-up. Conclusion: The findings may support professionals in deciding how best to allocate scarce resources; and it is intended to extend the outcome study to at least a 5-year follow-up period, to see whether compliance and shifts in psychological measures are a valid predictor of outcome.

Public opinion and the sentencing of perpetrators of child sexual abuse

The evidence regarding prosecution and sentencing practices for perpetrators of child sexual abuse is unclear and incomplete. Recent research in South East London has found that sentencing only appeared to be consistent in the most extreme cases, the outcome of the majority of indecent assault cases appearing to have no relation to salient offence, offender or victim characteristics. This paper aims to explore the possible impact on judicial decision-making that increased media interest may have had in cases of child sexual abuse. The sample comprised 41 male subjects sentenced over a three year period for indecent assault on children. The summer of 1993 was taken as the mid-point when two cases received an unusual level of media attention and public outcry. It was found that there was a reduction the number of community sentences with a condition of treatment being imposed by the court. This trend was still apparent although less strong, when cases involving allegations of penetrative assault were dropped from the sample. It was concluded that there was tentative support for changes injudicial views towards sexual offenders, but the hypothesis that the judiciary were capitulating under pubic pressure to impose a much greater number of custodial sentences was not supported. The difficulties this poses for preventing recidivism in the longer term is discussed.

The Challenge Project: Perpetrators of child sexual abuse in South East London

The collection of descriptive data on sex offenders has been marred by methodological problems: failing to distinguish between different types of sex offenders, or using selective samples from specialist institutions. The Challenge Project is a community project for perpetrators of child sexual abuse in South East London. Over a 2 year period, all convicted child molesters appearing before the court for sentencing or applying for parole were assessed by the Project Team. Data was collected on a range of personal, offense-related, and psychometric variables. Some of these were replicated on violent and property offender populations to allow for a preliminary comparison to be made. The descriptive profile of the offenders mirrored findings of previous research, and the comparison with other offender groups suggested that there is a cluster of childhood experiences which differentiate these sex offenders from other types of offenders. The research findings supported the hypothesis that perpetrators of child sexual abuse form a heterogeneous group of offenders, with identifiable—albeit overlapping—subgroups related to key variables such as a history of sexual abuse, repeat offending, and victim gender and relationship. The essential importance of these variables in relation to compliance with and response to treatment is discussed in further research.

Victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse.

This article aims to inform clinicians of current thinking in the area of victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse. It covers prevalence data as well as identification, effects and interventions with victims, and also characteristics, assessment and treatment of perpetrators. The review is based on manual searches and the authors' own clinical experience. All clinicians should be aware of signs and symptoms that raise the possibility that someone has been or is being sexually abused, and also of the possibilities of abuse of boys and of women as abusers. Methods of intervening are discussed, both in relation to victims and perpetrators. The importance of thoroughness when assessing perpetrators is emphasised because of their tendency to deny and/or minimise their offending. The demands of this work are underlined in a section on the necessary qualifications and characteristics of therapists working in this area. Despite the lack of agreement in definitions and outcome measures used in research there are some positive findings in relation to clinical efficacy. In particular, the need for long-term treatment with those offenders who are more seriously deviant has been supported by recent research. There is a need for continuing attempts to standardise definitions and measures to aid realistic comparison of research results.

Professional attitudes regarding treatment and punishment of incest: Comparing police, child welfare, and community mental health

Brief case histories involving incest were presented to police officers, child welfare workers, and community mental health practitioners in a rural area in Canada. Intervention priorities involving “treatment versus punishment” were assessed across the three professional groups for each specific case vignette. Attitudes were assessed on three factors: perpetrator mentally ill rather than criminal, view regarding treatment of victims and mothers, and support for court mandated treatment. Police and community mental health practitioners had significantly different attitudes as to whether perpetrators of child sexual abuse should be viewed more as criminals or as mentally disturbed. Both mental health and child welfare staff differed significantly from police with a less punitive view towards victims and their mothers. All three profressional groups showed no difference in their modest endorsement of the use of mandated treatment by the courts. Gender was not found to influence response to case vignettes.

A Structured Group Approach with Adolescent Perpetrators

This paper gives a descriptive account of a structured groupwork approach for adolescent perpetrators based upon a five-step model developed by Smets and Cebula (1987). Experience with the model over a 2-year period is described and additions to the programme are outlined. Preliminary outcome findings are described. The paper also raises a number of issues which are important to the groupwork process. These concern relevant selection and the actual process itself. The paper suggests that groupwork treatment with adolescent perpetrators of child sexual abuse is a potentially effective means of intervention alongside individual, therapeutic work.

Working with perpetrators of child sexual abuse: Issues for social work practice

Abstract Research was funded by an award from the Social Work Services Group of the Scottish Office.

Recent legal trends in child sexual abuse cases: Direction for child protection workers

Considerable changes have occurred in criminal proceedings involving sexually abused children. As a result, perpetrators of child sexual abuse have been convicted more easily and sentenced to long prison sentences. However, a number of these convictions have been tainted and, thus reversed on appeal, based on either problems in the investigatory process or expert witnesses' exceeding the limits of proper testimony. Because many investigators and some expert witnesses were social workers, the author discusses recent decisions where appellate judges have criticized child protection workers' behaviors. By becoming familiar with cases such as these, child protection workers should gain a better understanding of the limits of their roles in the investigatory process and court proceedings. The result more likely would be that just convictions would be upheld by appellate courts, and falsely accused defendants would be spared the stigma of accusation, trial, and perhaps conviction.

Avengers, Conquerors, Playmates, and Lovers: Roles Played by Child Sexual Abuse Perpetrators

Children often do not disclose significant details of their sexually abusive experiences, nor can they account for the behavior of perpetrators. Yet such information is important for effective practice. Perpetrators can fill in significant details children may not disclose as well as share their own perspectives on the abuse. The research reported here used in-depth, repeated interviews with 23 perpetrators of child sexual abuse and a phenomenological and emancipatory approach. Results indicated that perpetrators of child sexual abuse have a wide variety of types of relationships with child victims. How they relate to victims can shift over the course of an abusive incident, and they may have different types of relationships with different victims. Previous research and theory and socialization practices are integrated into the interview data to show the pervasiveness of the patterns of relationships that perpetrators establish.

Learning from Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse

In a recent research initiative by Northumbria Probation Service Sex Offenders Team and the Department of Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry, Newcastle Mental Health Trust, perpetrators of child sexual abuse were interviewed about how they selected, groomed and abused their victims, revealing use of systematic and sustained strategies. Implications for probation practice are explored.

Masculinity and femininity in male and female perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Masculinity and femininity in male and female perpetrators of child sexual abuse

The challenge project: An evaluation of perpetrators of child sexual abuse

Abstract The collection of descriptive data on sex offenders is by no means a new phenomena, although little research has collated comprehensive data on a British community sample. Over an 18 month period, 44 referrals of convicted perpetrators of child sexual abuse were received and data from interview, documentation and psychometric measures collected. Socio-demographic and background data were largely compatible with those of previous research, including a significant history of childhood difficulties, and sexual dysfunction in adulthood. The low IQ, social class and social skills found may be a result of bias in those cases coming to the attention of the legal system. It was demonstrated that there were clear subgroups of subjects with definite victim preferences: those abusing boys were significantly more likely to have been a victim of childhood sexual abuse, reported a greater degree of psychosexual disturbance, and were charged more often for offences of buggery. Tentative clusterings of data are ...