NCJ Number
106035
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 187-192
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Two groups of children were observed in their play with anatomically correct dolls; those children who have been sexually abused demonstrated more sexual behavior with the dolls than did those who had not been sexually abused.
Abstract
Adult male and female dolls and child male and female dolls were used in the experiment. Each child was observed through a two-way mirror for 1 hour. The participant told each child that these dolls were different from those at home because these had all the body parts. The child undressed the dolls and was invited to name the body parts; then unresticted but observed play was allowed. The children who had been sexually abused touched the genitals of the dolls or simulated sexual intercourse in 90 percent of the cases. Only 20 percent of the nonsexually abused children demonstrated such behavior. This test is useful in investigations. 1 table and 4 references. (Author abstract modified)