NCJ Number
145829
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (1992) Pages: 83-112
Date Published
1992
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Most child sexual abuse prevention (CSAP) programs are founded in empowerment theory, which holds that child sexual abuse is the exercise of power over children with the sexual component of the interaction serving as the tool for the expression of power. However, much of the available research indicates that sexual abuse of children is an exercise in sexual expression, where power is sometimes used as the tool.
Abstract
Concepts which are found in most CSAP programs relate to body ownership, touch continuum, secrecy, intuition, preventive action, support systems, blame. The assumptions upon which typical CSAP programs are based include empowerment of children, the ability of young children to grasp abstract concepts, and the ability of instructors to teach children about sexual abuse prevention without any discussion of sexuality. An alternative to the CSAP program, PRISM (Prevention, Reduction, and Identification of Sexual Misuse) consists of three components: childhood sexuality education, social problem solving skills training, and child sexual abuse prevention training. The underlying thesis of the PRISM program is that children cannot learn about sexual misuse without understanding sex and sexuality. This program aims to prevent child sexual abuse without negatively affecting the normal sexual development of children. 2 notes and 53 references