Sexual child abuse and its psychological effects on victims

Sexual Child Abuse

Child sexual abuse involves a broad range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and an older person. These sexual behaviors are planned to erotically stir the older person, commonly without concern for the consequences, choices, or outcome of the behavior upon the child. Definite conducts that are sexually offensive frequently involve bodily contact, such as in the state of sexual kissing, touching, fondling of genitals, and oral, anal, or vaginal contact. Nevertheless, behaviors might be sexually abusive even if they do not entail contact, such as in the case of genital exposure, verbal force for sex, and sexual abuse for purposes of prostitution or pornography.

For Definitions propose four main types of child abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and child neglect), but seldom if ever does one form of abuse happen alone. The suggestion in itself is illogical. Physical abuse and sexual exploitation never occur in the absence of emotional abuse. Children who are sexually abused regularly experience physical harm. When one form of abuse does exist in absence of others, it is expected to be emotional abuse.

Sexual Abuse: Effects on Children

The strongest sign that a child has been sexually abused are unsuitable awareness about sex, inappropriate sexual attention, and sexual acting out. (APA, 1995) The effects of abuse are consequence from the abuse itself, from the family's reaction to the condition, and from the stigmatization, that is associated with abuse. The signs can include post-traumatic symptoms, sexualization, depression, angst, shame, panic, sexual dysfunction, dissociative indicators, eating disorders, substance misuse, prostitution, regressive behaviors and academic and behavior problems. (APA, 1995)

Issues that impact the result in cases of childhood sexual abuse consist of the age of the victim, the regularity and degree of the abuse, the connection of the victim to the abuser, the use of force, the occurrence of severe injury, and the number of different perpetrators.(Goldman et al., 1982) The response of the victim's family has a tremendous effect on the result. sympathetic reactions from the victim's family and friends can go far to reduce the effect of the abuse while negative responses will compound the harm done.

Emotional Effects despite of the fundamental reasons of the impact of sexual abuse, the tribulations are very real for victims and their families. moreover, fresh efforts to recognize the impact of sexual abuse have gone further than clinical impressions and case studies. They are rooted upon research result.

Finkelhor, whose conceptualization of the traumatic effects of sexual abuse is the most extensively in use, divides it into four broad types, each having varied psychological and behavioral effects. (Finkelhor, 1986)

Traumatic sexualization. Included in the psychological outcomes of traumatic sexualization are unenthusiastic feelings about sex, overrating sex, and sexual identity problems. Behavioral expressions of traumatic sexualization constitute a variety of hypersexual manners as well as evading of sexual encounters.

Stigmatization. General psychological signs of stigmatization are what Sgroi labels "damaged goods syndrome" (Sgroi, 1982) and thoughts of guilt and blame for the abuse or the cost of disclosure. These feelings are displayed in self-destructive behaviors such as substance abuse, risk-taking exploits, self-mutilation, suicidal actions and acts, and violent behavior designed to bring forth punishment.

Betrayal. Possibly the most primary damage from sexual abuse is its discouragement of trust in those people who are expected to be protectors and nurturers. Other psychological impressions of betrayal include resentment and borderline functioning. Behavior that suggests to this trauma includes avoidance of investment in others, influencing others, renewing the trauma through subsequent involvement in exploitive and damaging relationships, and engaging in angry and acting-out behaviors.

Powerlessness. The psychological effect of the trauma of helplessness includes both an awareness of susceptibility and victimization and a yearning to control or prevail, frequently by empathy with the aggressor. As with the trauma of disloyalty, behavioral expressions may imply violence and exploitation of others. On the other hand, the vulnerability effect of incapacity may be responses, like dissociation and running away; anxieties, including fears, sleep disorders and eating problems; and re-victimization.

Short-Term Effects

There are numerous short-term effects that a child experiences, psychologically, emotionally, and physically. According to Dr. Patricia McClendon, "Approximately 40% of all victims/survivors suffer aftereffects serious enough to require therapy in adulthood."..whether being short-term effects or long-term effects, all effects of the exploitation are grave enough to encourage therapy.(McClendon, 1991)

The short-term effects of child sexual abuse are few and not as damaging to the child as the long-term effects are. By the short-term effects after the sexual abuse has taken place, the child will feel some things for a short time and feel other things throughout their entire lives, often contradictory feelings and views, which is certainly long-term. Children feel uneasy, angry, scared, and apprehensive before, during, and after the abuse has transpired, according to the National Association of Social Worker's Journal, volume 42, #2.(NASW News, 1997) Nevertheless, they only feel these emotions for a short time and then they get used to these feelings if the abuse is continuing. The child victims also have nightmares, troubles in school, and feel miserable and ill-tempered. These problems can be addressed and do not last a long time if they are taken care of right away, or as soon as possible.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects last all through the child's life and are more psychologically destructive to their well-being. Concludes Kathleen Berger. "The long-term effects impair the child's ability to develop normally." If the abuse is continuing, the child is further prone to be in an violent relationship as an adult. It is also difficult for the victim to found a trust and/or connection with anyone, mainly with older adult. subsequently, while the abuser is for the most part is liable to be older, the injured party may date older men, double their age, as they be reminiscent them of the abuser. They do not have faith in them completely, but they still feel devotion and love for older men. This is only in the situation where victims are young girls who were abused by their fathers. Stepfathers are also a common as abusers, the girl might also have an abnormal outlook on sexuality, and may be uncertain about her sexual orientation as she develops and ages into an adult (Berger, 1998).

A number of other psychological costs are drug and alcohol abuse, becoming sexually active at a young age, and revolt in school, with their counterparts, or authority figures. Victims are also more liable to become suspended, expelled, or drop out of school. Eating complaints are frequent, as well as suicide and dejection, running away from home, and engaging into relationships that are more abusive is also common.

In the end, the child victim may become child abusers themselves, or, paradoxically, prostitutes. The only bodily damages that a child gets are modifications in the genital or anal area. The child may make declarations that their bodies are hurt or dirty...throughout their entire lives. Some common characteristics are, seductive behavior, secretiveness, violence, fear of intimacy, self-destruction, and finally, separation and/or alienation. Despite the fact that those physical damages can be severe, they can be healed, while the psychological scars could last a lifetime.

Laws that have been Passed to Reduce Child Abuse

Megans Law

The parents of 7-year-old Megan Kanka of Hamilton Township did not know that a twice-convicted sex offender was living across the street until that person was charged with the vicious rape and murder of their daughter.

The offense -- happening only months after a related occurrence in Monmouth County -- impelled passage of state laws obliging warning about sex offenders who may cause a risk to the community.

New Jersey's law, commonly known as "Megan's Law," necessitates convicted sex offenders to register with local police.

Megan's Law also sets up a three-tier warning process to supply information about offenders to law enforcement outfits and, when suitable, to the public. The type of notification is established on an assessment of the risk to the community from a specific offender. The Attorney General's Office, in consultation with a special 12-member council, has make available to county prosecutors, who must make that appraisal, with the factors to be used in determining the level of risk posed by the offender.

Geared up with the descriptions and whereabouts of high risk sex offenders, communities will be better able to protect their children.

Judicial Systems

Legal experts have an extensive range of responsibilities depending on whom they represent and the stage of a judicial proceeding. Among other things, they might organize caseworkers, expert witnesses, and other witnesses to testify in court proceedings.

Prosecutors guarantee that criminal action is in line with child protection proceedings. They ensure the child is ready for trial and supplied with advocacy services as needed; assist the court in shaping a sentence when there has been a conviction; and, take part in multi-disciplinary team meetings when needed.

Guardian Ad Litems, legal counsel for children and court selected special advocates, make certain that the needs and interests of the child are protected; decide the child's treatment needs; and make possible a speedy resolution to the case when possible.

Family court judges give emergency protective orders, as required; work to swiftly resolve all cases of abuse; know appropriate case law and correct the court process to deal with individual victims; support the development of community resources for abused children and their families. Court employees help ensure that victims and families are dealt with sympathetically all through the judicial process and identify possible child maltreatment cases pending before the court for other reasons. Other experts frequently become drawn in child abuse cases. Among them are educators, members of the clergy, and other support givers.

American Psychological Association. (October, 1999)

Understanding Child Sexual Abuse: Education, Prevention, and Recovery. American Psychological Association Web Site..

Berger, Kathleen Strassen. (1998). The developing person through the life span. New York: Worth.

D. Finkelhor and A. Browne.(1986)."The Effects of Sexual Abuse," in D. Finkelhor et al., eds., Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

F. Porter, L. Blick, and S. Sgroi.(1982). "Treatment of the Sexually Abused Child," in S. Sgroi, ed., Handbook of Clinical Intervention in Child Sexual Abuse. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

Goldman, L., Horan, D., Warshaw, C., Kaplan, S, and M. Hendricks-Matthews. (October, 1995).

Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines on Mental Health Effects of Family Violence. American Medical Association Web Site.

McClendon, Patricia D. November (1991). MSSW candidate. Incest/sexual abuse of children. Internet. p.23. Available: http://www.clinicalsocialwork.com/incest.html

National Association of Social Worker News. (1997, February). States eye domestic abuse welfare option. NASW News, Volume 42, #7, pp11.