NCJ Number
125612
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 69 Issue: 5 Dated: (September/October 1990) Pages: 389-400
Date Published
1990
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Thirty mothers of nonabused young children were interviewed 2 weeks after the children were exposed to unclothed anatomical dolls to determine their perceptions of the children's reactions to the dolls.
Abstract
The children were ages 3 to 5 and were exposed to clothed and unclothed dolls in both the presence and absence of the interviewer, who undressed the doll and named bodily parts such as fingers, breasts, genitalia, and anus. The mothers and their children were visited at home within 18 days after the child's doll interview. Findings showed that many mothers of the 3-year-olds and 4-year olds felt that the experience heightened their child's awareness of body parts. None of the mothers in the total sample saw any behaviors that could be misconstrued as indicating that any sexual abuse had taken place. Results also suggested that professionals should advise parents of children's possible reactions to a doll interview and that an interview using the dolls conclude with a neutral fun activity like the puppet show that followed the doll activity. Tables and 10 references. (Author abstract modified)