Child Sexual Abuse

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that child sexual abuse results in numerous long-term effects on the victim's later functioning and those later effects are demonstrated in low self-esteem and maladaptive behavior. The writer maintains that sexuality cannot be regarded as confined to the genitals or reproductive process, but rather must be understood as one component of the personality which impacts on personal identity and self-esteem. The writer points out that child sexual abuse cannot be approached merely as an issue of sexuality nor as an isolated event. It is trauma which affects the child's view of the world and, without effective therapy, will affect the individual for the duration of his life. The outcome of sexual abuse has a wide range and is also subject to wide variation from psychiatric problems to suicide. The writer concludes that whatever form the actual abuse might take, it is always a traumatic event that has the potential to alter the child's development, and is approached as such by therapy.

From the Paper:

"The victim is transformed in a negative way as a consequence of child sexual abuse. Until such an event occurs, the person normally has a sense of invulnerability or the idea that bad things cannot happen for them. After the traumatic event, however, the same individual as a consequence of having that illusion shattered will then expect victimization to reoccur. According to Gorran, the experience of sexual abuse inevitably leads to a pronounced inability to trust, which leads into later problems with interpersonal relationships which are associated with the same underlying mistrust that persists over the life span. A second effect of child sexual abuse is that it destroys the idea of a meaningful, stable, and predictable world. Prior to the event, the older child has a view of the world that some other person can be victimized but not herself or himself. It is when the victim is acquainted with the perpetrator of the sexual abuse that the world will no longer make sense and cannot be meaningful for the victim; this is also the defining feature of the whole psychological impact of traumatic stress disorder. Trauma can include the victim's conviction that there is something deeply wrong with herself or himself, and especially that in some way they have instigated the assault."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bittle, Steven. "Youth Involvement in Prostitution: A Focus on Intrafamilial Violence". Dept. of Justice Canada. 2005. http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/rs/index.html
• Broman, C. (2003). Sexuality attitudes: The impact of trauma. Journal of Sex Research, 4 (6), 1-2.
• Gorran, J. (2006). Child sexual abuse. National Foundation to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse. Accessed March 19, 2007. http://www.fbifingerprintchecks.com/hiring.html
• Leverich, G. (2006). Course of bipolar illness after history of childhood trauma. The Lancet, 367 (9516), 1040-1043.

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