Demographics HD 300 Child Abuse & Neglect

Transcription

1 Demographics HD 300 Child & Neglect Unit 10 Sexual (Intra-Familial) Sexual abuse cuts across all socioeconomic levels. Offenders are usually male (97%). Victims are usually female (77%). 1 in 4 molested by age 18 Sexual abuse of males is under-reported. Reported 1 in 7 molested by age 18 However, the rate may be as high as that for girls. Demographics Estimated cases of child sexual abuse in U.S. are 250,000 to 300,000 per year. Median age is 9 10 years, but children vulnerable at all ages (birth through adolescence). Girls are more likely to be victims of incest. Boys are more likely to be victims of perpetrators outside of the family. Demographics Sexual abuse is most common within families. Estimated one in ten homes incestuous Adult-child incest Number wise, biological father/daughter most common Percentage wise, stepfathers or mother s boyfriend and the daughter most common Sibling incest is most common overall. Five times more common than father/daughter incest Description Sexual abuse includes much more than sexual intercourse. Sexual abuse often begins innocuously and may not progress to sexual intercourse for a long time. Types of Sexual Voyeurism Exposure Suggestive or dirty talk Pornography Showing or involving child Fondling 1

2 Types of Sexual Masturbation Masturbating the child Having child masturbate the perpetrator Rubbing genitals on the child Penetration Rape Rape is now defined as any sexual activity in which force, threats of force, or threats in general are used. Penetration does not have to occur. Preconditions The offender must have sexual feelings toward children. The offender must overcome internal inhibitions. The offender must overcome external inhibitions. The offender must overcome the child s resistance. The Perpetrator Usually older than the victim Generally possesses more knowledge about sex compared to the victim Generally more powerful than the victim The act is primarily for the sexual gratification of the offender. The Issue of Consent Informed consent means the child must have a full understanding of the significance of the sexual encounter. A child cannot give informed consent Not developmentally mature enough to have a full understanding Is not really free to say no The Issue of Consent Since the perpetrator uses illegitimate power when initiating sexual contact, submission on the part of the child cannot be viewed as voluntary. Incest Legally defined as sexual intercourse between two persons so closely related that marriage is prohibited by law. However, from a social standpoint, sex between stepparents and children, or between step-siblings is viewed as incest. For every reported case of incest, it is estimated that at least 25 cases go unreported. Incest is not only under-reported, it is also undertreated. 2

3 Myths About Incest It is limited to rural sections of the country. It is a one-or two-time occurrence involving a single child in the family. It is just another normal deviation in a varied sex life. Myths About Incest The incest taboo limits incest. Incest is less traumatic to the child than sexual assault by a stranger. Children may be responsible for the incestuous encounter. Childhood experiences of the offender An estimated 70% of male sex offenders were offended when they were children. Cultural norms Norms that sanction the right of adults to impose their will on children Norms that support male dominance Norms related to male sexuality Vulnerable role relationships Step, foster, and adopted children Non-custodial or single parents Partner characteristics Rejection, ridicule, and defiance by a partner Infidelity Withholding sex Factors that make the child readily available to the abuser Crowded living conditions Sleeping arrangements Parents working different shifts Child care arrangements Factors affecting self-esteem Loss of a job Unemployment Injuries or illness Disabilities Rejection by peers or family members 3

4 Child factors A child who has been sexually abused in the past A child who is neglected or deprived A child from a single parent family A child with mental disabilities A child who has few friends Family factors Family problems Parental incapacity Marital status Family characteristics Alcoholism or drug dependency Authoritarian fathers Social isolation of the family Categories of Incestuous Families Families that are generally not known to the public service system and appear normal Multi-problem families with a long history of public agency involvement The single event family Patterns of Sexual Dyadic The most common pattern Involves two people perpetrator and victim Group sex Single offender and more than one victim More than one offender and/or victim Sexual exploitation Children are used to produce pornography or are sold as prostitutes Patterns of Sexual Sex rings Boys are more likely to be victimized Generally developed by pedophiles Ritualistic sexual abuse Private occurs frequently and in the same manner Group Involves more than two persons and is likely to include occult practices Defense Mechanisms Behavioral Feign sleep Hide Withdrawal Submission Some children will report the abuse 4

5 Defense Mechanisms Psychological Denial Repression Regression Rationalization Dissociation Child Incest Victims Internal and external behavior problems Psychological problems Physical symptoms Age inappropriate sexual behaviors Reluctance to be with a certain person(s) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Adult Survivors Adult Survivors Almost every known psychiatric syndrome has been reported in association with past child sexual abuse, including: Frigidity or promiscuity Delinquency Depression Suicidal ideation, attempts, completion Phobias Psychosis (including post-partum) Eating disorders Anxiety attacks Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Dissociative disorders Includes multiple personality/identity Dissociative Disorder Virtually all (> 95%) of these people have a history of sexual abuse Reporting Disclosure is problematic The absence of visible scars The tendency of the victim to accept responsibility for the abuse The strong emotional bond between the child and the perpetrator Identification is contingent upon the actions of the victim or family members 5