PSYX 348 1st EditionExam # 2 Study Guide Psych of Family Violence Exam 2 Study GuideNote: Remember this is simply a study guide to assist you in your preparation for the exam. Use this guide in conjunction with your notes and the book to study for your exam.Child Sexual Abuse (CSA):Cultural context of CSA- Forms of behavior that have not been well-studiedo Normal touching in families: Sleeping patterns Nudity Privacy Kissing/huggingo Cultural differences in all of these behaviors ^- Factors that may affect whether or not sexual behavior is considered abusiveo Historical period in question o Cultural context of the behavior o Values and orientations of specific social groups Current definitions for CSA- Four factorso 1. Non-contact CSA If the abuse involved bodily contact- Ex. parental nudity, child porn o 2. Intention of perpetrator Requires that the activity in question be intentionally sexually stimulating - Ex. normal bathing vs. repeated genital examinations or cleanings o 3. Exertion of power/control over victim  Use of authority over child to achieve sexual ends Children are incapable of providing informed consent to sexual interactions with adults because:- A. Children are not fully capable of understanding what they are consenting to + what consequences of consenting might beThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- B. Children might not be in a position to deny involvement because of adults authority over them o 4. Age difference between perpetrator & victim  Many definitions limit abuse situations involving an age difference of 2+ years between perpetrator & victim Some definitions include children and adolescents as possible perpetrators:- if a situation involves exploitation of a child by advantage of the perpetratorssize, age, sex or status - Legal issueso Accuracy of child memories o Victim reluctance to report Majority of victims DO NOT disclose abuse immediatelyo Victim fabrication Age and gender differences/similarities in CSA - Abuserso Age: 32 mean age 40% of offenders may be adolescentso Gender: Around 75% are male Female offenders less likely to be detected- Abusedo Girls 3-5x more likely o Boys less likely to reporto Low SES 2x more likely o Other risk factors: Single parenthood Lower education Parent mental health history- History of parental child abuse Mother employed outside the house/unemployed father Cognitive disabilities - Abuser relationship to childo Intra-familial within the family  Official reporters show=most common form o Interfamilial: outside the family  Self reports show= most common form Types of sexual abuse activity (severity) o 1. Very serious vaginal/anal intercourseo 2. Serious fondling or mutual stimulation, oral/genital contact, object penetration o 3. Least seriousattempted sexual contact, sexual touching, voyeurismo Statistics:o Non clinical samples:o Very serious= 38%o Serious= 34%o Least serious=28%o Clinical sample: o Very serious= 66%o Serious= 23%o Least serious= 6%Factors that initiate CSAo Grooming the process of desensitizing the child to sexual activity/behavior to get them to complyo Perpetrator is likely to: Condition using rewards and punishments Misrepresent moral standards  Misuse authority  Choose children who are vulnerable  Separate the child from protective adultso 2 categories: 1. Seduction/enticements- Building upon a preexisting relationship through a progression of non sexual (tickling) to sexual touching  2. Verbal/physical intimidation Factors that maintain CSAo Perpetrators try to convince child to keep behaviors a secreto Coercive acts: Bribing Threatening Physical aggression (most CSA is non-violent)Potential effects of CSA in victimso Immediate effectso Most common symptoms: Sexualized behavior PTSD avoidance, re-experiencing, increased anxiety response (hyper-arousal)o Long term effects o Increased risk for: PTSD Depression Anxiety Problems with interpersonal relationships Problems with sexual adjustment Eating disorders Substance use Self-destructive behaviors o Variability in effects:o 20-50% of victims have no symptoms at the beginning of treatment  10-25% become symptomatically worse during the first 2 years Common traits in offenders Antisocial tendencies Lack of empathy Impulse control problems Willingness to violate the rights of others Insecurity and vulnerable feels Poor coping abilities Cognitive distortionso Perpetrators rationalize and defend their behavior through distorted ideas or thoughts  Ex. “having sex with children is a good way to teach them about sex”  Childhood History of sexual abuse o CSA adult offenders are more likely than nonsexual offenders to have a suffered CSA themselvesExplaining CSA Focus on the victim early explanations for CSA focused on the victim’s culpability for encouraging or allowing the abuse to occuro Victims seductively encouraged perpetrators or enjoyed the abuseo Research evidence contradicts  Focus on the offendero Psychiatric model Assuming that the causes of CSA stem from the individual psychopathology of male abusers  Differences in the brains of psychopaths and nonpsychopaths o Deviant Sexual Arousal pedophilia; perpetrators seek out sexual encounters with children because they are sexually attracted to children Abnormal androgen levels Integrative & family theories of CSA Socio-cognitive deficits o Social skills deficitso Problems with interpersonal intimacyo Inaccurate cognitive assessments/cognitive distortions Etiological model  Biological, social & attachment components o Stressors in home environment Low self- esteem Limited coping abilities Poor quality relationships with others History of sexual abuse o Stressors lead to poor attachment o Overreliance on sexualized coping methods Masturbation Sexual actso Offender is predisposed to engage in sexually abusive behavior Society & culture theories  Societal attitudeso Inequality between men & women Extended to childreno Greater power differences in families related to higher rates of CSA  Media depictions o Depictions of sexuality in media create misperceptions that women and girls desire violent sexual contacto Child pornography: May