Sexual abuse and child psychosexual development: implications for forensic assessment

• Type: Summary of Presentation in an International Conference
• Date: 2006

Authors

Carlos Peixoto (Author) FPCEUP; Catarina Ribeiro (Author) FPCEUP; Celina Manita (Author) FPCEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: Book of abstracts of the XVI International Congress da International Society for The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)

Pages: 129-129

XVI International Congress da International Society for The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)

York, 2 a 6 de setembro de 2006

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences > Psychology

Other information

Resumo (PT): The objective of this presentation is to describe normative child sexual behaviour in a Portuguese sample, and to compare it to a sexual abuse children sample. This exploratory study will achieve relevant data to use in the Portuguese forensic assessment context.

Abstract (EN): The out breaking work of Sigmund Freud highlighted the existence of a normative sexual behaviour and its importance in the development of child personality. A review of literature (Furniss, 1991; Herman, 1997; Friedrich et al., 2001) shows that child sexual abuse has serious consequences on the development of child sexual behaviour. Early contact with genital physiological arousal and sexual intercourse as an expression of emotion can cause a change in normative child sexual behaviour, and in consequence, becomes a trumatogenic factor in personality development. Nevertheless, still remains a limited amount of literature regarding children’s sexual knowledge, interests, and experiences. What is deemed “normal” child sexual behaviour still causes doubts to professionals (Hornor, 2004). Sexual behaviour in children is normal, expected, and includes a wide range of behaviours. Knowledge regarding the sexual behaviours of children is not only of theoretical interest, but assumes particular importance in context of forensic assessment of sexual abuse allegations. Normal sexual play activities between children should not be regarded as of clinical relevance in the assumption that results of sexual abuse. In the other hand, sexually abused children manifest more sexual behaviours than non-clinical children do (Sandnabba, Santtila, Wannäs & Krook, 2003). Therefore, the age-inappropriate sexual knowledge and sexual behaviour is a useful clinical symptom to support the credibility of sexual abuse allegation. Therefore, it is important to the forensic psychologist to have a accurate knowledge of what is common or age appropriate child sexual behaviour. Sexual behaviour of children should be examined in context (social, cultural, and familial) and cultural values, not isolated (Friedrich et al, 2005; Schoentjes, Deboutte & Friedrich, 2005). The objective of our presentation is to describe normative child sexual behaviour in a Portuguese sample, and to compare it to a sexual abuse children sample. This exploratory study will achieve relevant data to use in the Portuguese forensic assessment context. To achieve this purpose we will administrate the Child Sexual Behaviour Inventory (CSBI) created by William Friedrich. The CSBI is a parent report (mother or primary female caregiver) measure of sexual behaviour in children between the ages of 2-12 years.. The administration of the CSBI will be make in the normative and sexual abuse children samples. Through a comparison of the data in the two samples we will explore its importance to forensic assessment in the context of sexual abuse allegations, particularly, in credibility assessment. With this methodological instrument we expect to explore which children sexual behaviour could be clinical useful to assess child sexual abuse in Portuguese children.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific