NCJ Number
181852
Date Published
1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article examines male sexual abuse and the aftereffects for victims, and suggests treatment options.
Abstract
The adjustment difficulties of sexually abused boys and adolescents may best be understood as arising in five separate clusters: relational, territorial, habitual, reactional, and physiological. The article briefly describes symptoms and behaviors indicative of responses in these areas, and suggests strategies for building rapport with sexually abused boys, intervention strategies, issues, and techniques. Sexually abused boys tend to experience a wide range of adjustment problems, including relationship difficulties, withdrawal from social contact, drug and alcohol abuse, hyperreligiosity, and compulsiveness. Many develop aggressive tendencies and become sexual abusers later in life. Those who adopt macho or abusive styles to compensate for their own victimization need help replacing these behaviors with more socialized ways of relating. Regaining trust in others is the most difficult, yet crucial, challenge facing sexually abused boys. The caring relationship of the counselor can be the foundation upon which these boys begin to recover from the sense of degradation and risk trusting the world again.