NCJ Number
104510
Date Published
1986
Length
379 pages
Annotation
These 15 papers examine the nature and extent of child sexual abuse, present techniques for evaluating young children believed to be victims, explore social and legal aspects of the handling of child sexual abuse cases, and provide guidelines for treating young children and families.
Abstract
The papers describe how to win the trust of frightened children; how to pose questions that will elicit the most information; and how to use puppets, dolls, and art materials. They also assess various treatment modalities, including individual play therapy, structured group treatment, and work with parents. Legal and ethical issues of videotaping testimony are also explored. The analyses focus on the role of the child's developmental stage, techniques for medical evaluation, methods of interviewing and gathering evidence, and allegations of sexual abuse in divorce proceedings. Further discussions consider the family dynamics involved in incest with young children, the parallel group treatment of children and their mothers, individual therapy, and ways to help parents cope with molestation by someone outside the family. A discussion of implications for the future contains recommendations for assessment, for actions by systems and agencies concerned with children, for training of professionals dealing with abused children or their families, and for prevention. Tables, figures, index, and 255 references. For individual papers, see NCJ 104511-13 (Publisher summary modified)