NCJ Number
47415
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 13 Issue: 49 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 29-43
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
FOLLOWING A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE METHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN DESIGNING A STUDY TO TEST A POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOMOSEXUALITY AND CHILD MOLESTATION, THE LITERATURE IS REVIEWED AND NO CONNECTION FOUND.
Abstract
THE IDEAL STUDY TO ASCERTAIN ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOMOSEXUALITY AND CHILD MOLESTATION WOULD EITHER TAKE A GROUP OF ADULTS ENGAGING IN HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND FIND WHAT PERCENTAGE HAVE ENGAGED IN CHILD MOLESTATION, OR WOULD TAKE A GROUP OF CHILD MOLESTERS AND FIND OUT HOW MANY HAVE ENGAGED IN HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR. DEFINING THE TERMS CHILD MOLESTATION AND HOMOSEXUALITY CREATED A PROBLEM. MOST HOMOSEXUALS TEND NOT TO REVEAL THEIR SEXUAL PREFERENCES, ESPECIALLY IF SUCH DISCLOSURE WOULD JEOPARDIZE THEIR JOBS OR SOCIAL STANDING. CHILD MOLESTATION, LIKEWISE, RANGES FROM CLEARLY DEFINED CASES INVOLVING SMALL CHILDREN TO MARGINAL CASES INVOLVING SEDUCTIVE TEENAGERS WHO ACT LIKE CONSENTING ADULTS. DESPITE THESE DIFFICULTIES, STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. NEARLY ALL HAVE SHOWN ONLY A RANDOM CONNECTION BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR AND CHILD MOLESTATION. THUS IT SEEMS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO STUDY ATTACKS ON CHILDREN AS A VARIATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY. INSTEAD, IT WOULD HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM IF MORE RESEARCH WERE DEVOTED TO THE TYPES OF CHILDREN MOST LIKELY TO BECOME VICTIMS, THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH MOLESTATIONS OCCUR, AND WARNING SIGNALS THAT OTHERS CAN INTERPRET TO POSSIBLY PREVENT MOLESTATION. EXTENSIVE REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (GLR)