NCJ Number
107207
Journal
Social Science Volume: 71 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1986) Pages: 11-15
Date Published
1986
Length
5 pages
Annotation
An interdisciplinary study of 60 sexually abusive families found that, contrary to current clinical evaluations of these families as ahistorical and asocial, their core concerns are with family loyalty, allegiance, and affiliation.
Abstract
The interdisciplinary research team included a pediatrician, a child psychologist, a child psychiatrist, a lawyer, a clinician trained in maternal and child health, and the author (an anthropologist). While the abused child was receiving a clinical assessment, the author interviewed 25 families about their normal functioning. The families showed relatively little concern about the actual sexual activity that had occurred. Their overwhelming concerns were with social relationships and patterns of loyalty within the family. Thus, families chose an interpretation of the event and a stance with respect to the outside world that involved either loyalty to the family group or betrayal of kin. The mother's account of the incident and her emotional support of the child are crucial to the child's psychological and emotional recovery, although not all mothers supported the child. In addition, court proceedings and delays are often not helpful to the family. (Author abstract modified)