NCJ Number
48406
Journal
American Journal of Psychotherapy Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 398-421
Date Published
1976
Length
25 pages
Annotation
THIS REVIEW OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND CASE HISTORIES FROM THE PHILADELPHIA SEX OFFENDER AND RAPE VICTIM CENTER SUGGESTS THAT CHILDREN ARE RAPE VICTIMS MORE OFTEN THAN SOCIETY ADMITS AND THE DAMAGE IS LASTING.
Abstract
WHEN FREUD BEGAN HIS WORK IN PSYCHOANALYSIS, HE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY SEXUAL TRAUMA IN CASES OF ADULT HYSTERIA, BUT EVEN FREUD HAD DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING THE POSSIBILITY OF INCEST. AFTER 1924, THE NOTION THAT HYSTERICAL SYMPTOMS WERE BASED ON ACTUAL SEXUAL ASSAULTS UPON CHILDREN FELL OUT OF FAVOR AND FANTASY WAS OFTEN USED AS THE EXPLANATION. WHEN PHILADELPHIA GENERAL HOSPITAL STARTED ITS RAPE VICTIM CENTER, FEW SUSPECTED THAT 150 TO 175 OF THE 1,000 CASES OF RAPE REPORTED ANNUALLY WOULD INVOLVE VICTIMS UNDER AGE 13. SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES FROM PRIVATE PRACTICE AND DATA FROM THE RAPE CENTER PROGRAM ILLUSTRATE THE LONG-LASTING EMOTIONAL TRAUMA RESULTING FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE FAMILY. IN ALL BUT ONE CASE, THE ASSAULT WAS INDEPENDENTLY CORROBORATED BY A THIRD PARTY. IN THESE CASES, SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF THE PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR BECAME POSSIBLE ONLY WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS FACED AND THE EMOTIONS INVOLVED UNRAVELED. A PROFILE OF A CHILD MOLESTER IS GIVEN. AN EXTENSIVE STUDY OF MEN CONVICTED OF PEDOPHILIC ACTIVITIES FOUND THAT THEIR MEAN INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT SCORE (IQ) WAS 94.5, THE LOWEST AVERAGE OF ALL SEXUAL OFFENDER GROUPS AND SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE IQ OF EXHIBITIONISTS (101.2). OF THE PEDOPHILES, 33 PERCENT HAD IQ'S BELOW 85 WHILE ONLY 15 PERCENT WERE ABOVE 115. PERSONALITY TESTS REVEALED THAT THEY TENDED TO VIEW THEMSELVES AS INFERIOR, THEY FELT UNABLE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER MEN IN ATTRACTING ADULT WOMEN, AND OFTEN HAD JOB PROBLEMS RESULTING IN ECONOMIC STRESS. THE PATTERN OF CHILD MOLESTATION SEEMS TO INVOLVE AN EMOTIONALLY DEPENDENT HUSBAND EAGER FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN ACTIVE, DOMINANT WIFE. ONLY WHEN THE WIFE, UNDER INCREASED PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL PRESSURES, BEGINS TO SEEK EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE HUSBAND DOES THE RELATIONSHIP BREAK. THE HUSBAND USUALLY BEGINS DRINKING AND SEXUALLY MOLESTS AN ACCESSIBLE LITTLE GIRL, GENERALLY ONE OVER WHOM HE EXERTS AUTHORITY. WHEN CHILD MOLESTATION IS DISCOVERED, AN IMMEDIATE SUPPORTIVE RESPONSE BY PARENTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL, DOCTORS, AND NURSES IS CRUCIAL TO PRESERVE THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THE CHILD. NOTES ARE PROVIDED AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)