Child Molestation: Causes, Effects, and Prevention

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
• Statement of the Problem
• Purpose of the Study
• Significance of the Study
• Historical Background
II. Causes: An Examination of the Aggressor
• Depression
• Drug/Alcohol Abuse
• Sexual Deficiencies
II. Effects of Child Molestation
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• Changes in Social Interaction
• Promiscuity
III. Solutions/Prevention
• Education
• Monitoring
• Medical/Psychological Treatment for Aggressor
IV. Discussions and Conclusion
V. References
Introduction

After viewing the recently released, “Precious”, a movie based upon the novel “Push” by Sapphire, it has become overwhelmingly apparent that child molestation is a widespread plague that has affected many young women across the United States of America. Child molestation is an act in which an adult or older adolescent abuses a child for sexual gratification and stimulation. This selfish and perverted act has proven to cause devastating short term affects on adolescents. This study will examine the possible causes of this type of behavior; primarily examining the aggressor. It will also detail some of the short term affects that arise among the victims, such as the psychological and social ramifications. It is also of necessity to note the possible solutions to prevent such actions from taking place.
This is a problem that is worthy of much consideration and recognition because statistics show that by an alarming rate children are victimized by irresponsible assailants. Statistics show that by the age of 18, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused. An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today. These alarming numbers are cause for much attention and concern. By the age of 8, more than 20% of children are sexually abused and 30-40% of all victims are abused by a family member. Another 50% are abused by someone outside the family, whom they know and trust and approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know. Examining these statistics show evidence that only 10% of victims are abused by strangers. (Trocme and Wolfe, 2002)

Causes: An Examination of the Aggressor The mental and social stability of aggressors are often factors in the cause of their predatory behavior towards children. Many aggressors suffer from depression, alcohol abuse, and in several cases were victims when they were children. Studies in 1996 found that the odds of becoming a child molester were 5.43 times greater for adult male victims of childhood sexual abuse than for adult male non-victims.
Psychological Deficiencies/Depression
Generally predators are mentally unstable themselves and prey on the vulnerabilities of children. Obviously, children are vulnerable to sexual abuse due to their age, size, and innocence. They are unable to protect themselves and stop abusive behavior. Many aggressors are opportunists which lack feelings for others and have an antisocial personality disorder. They feel as if they are exempt from the rules of society and disregard the feelings of others. Offenders with fixated behaviors, are ones in which their attraction to children constitutes an arrestment of his socio-sexual maturation resulting from unresolved formative issues that undermined his subsequent development and persist in his personality functioning. Other possible causes of child molestation are hormonal imbalances, sexual anxiety, heredity, situational stress, and poor impulse control.
Sexual Deficiencies
According to a study conducted by the Child Molestation Prevention Institute, the vast majority of predators are individuals that have an ongoing sex drive directed toward children. Individuals in this category that are 16 years old and above are considered to have the disorder pedophilia. Pedophilia, outlined by the American Psychiatric Association in the Statement Diagnostic Criteria for Pedophilia, is characterized as a paraphilic mental disorder displaying behavior of recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors that generally involve nonhuman subjects, children, or other non-consenting adults, or the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner. They provide specific criteria for an individual to be considered a pedophile (2003).
Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger). The person has acted on these sexual urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in the first criterion. Pedophiles molest 88% of the children who are molested. They commit 95% of the acts. It is important to note that there is a difference between a child molester and a pedophile. A child molester is anyone who sexually touches a child; however, a pedophile must meet the above referenced criterion. One observation that can be made about child offenders is that they are not all alike; some are fixated while others are regressed. For offenders that exhibit a regressed behavior, their sexual involvement with a child constitutes a temporary or permanent departure from his more characteristic attraction to age mates. Such a regressed offender did not previously exhibit any predominant sexual interest in significantly younger persons (during his formative years) but when he entered adulthood and experienced the attendant responsibilities and life demands as overwhelming and/or when his adult relationships became conflicting and emotionally unfulfilling a sexual attraction to children emerged (Pattison, Jackson and Ward, 2002).

Effects of Child Molestation Victims of child molestation experience traumatic and often life-changing effects. After experiencing such a devastating act, children often respond in a manner that is uncommon to healthy children. Children who have been sexually abused often display various signs that often follow them throughout their adolescent life. Several of the major effects of child molestation are psychological. As a child, molestation can be mentally devastating causing many victims to experience periods of depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that is a result of a traumatic psychological experience. Victims of sexual abuse exhibit common symptoms of PTSD such as re-experiencing (flashbacks, bad dreams and frightening thoughts), avoidance, hyper arousal, and/or dysphoria. Symptoms experienced are similar to those experienced by Vietnam veterans and may include sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression, which negatively impact on their daily psychosocial functioning and for which many seek professional help.
Changes in Social Interaction
Another common effect is the change in their interaction socially with family and friends. Victims often withdraw themselves from acquaintances and refrain from usual activities. Children often withdraw themselves with playful activity. There are cases where children alter their dressing patterns, attempting to cover themselves regardless of temperature. On occasions, some children tend to over-sexualize playing due to the untimely exposure to sexual activity. They learn too soon about sexual activity and often exhibit seductive behavior. It is reported that 17% of abused children exhibit age inappropriate sexual behavior. This can cause serious issues at school and at play with peers. Some children become aggressive themselves in social settings and feel the need to control situations and others.
Promiscuity
Too often individuals that have been the victim of sexual abuse as children have indulged in promiscuous activity. Some have even become involved in prostitution. As a result of learning sexual behavior at a young age, many teenagers and adults continue is the action. Victims usually move from one sexual abuse area to another. Many individuals use sexual addictions as a coping mechanism – using sex as a means to ease the pain and frustration.
Solutions/Prevention
Detection is one of the most intricate preliminary steps in prevention. Most victims of child molestation don’t divulge the fact that they are being, or have been, molested. Some are too young to verbally describe what they are experiencing. Many victims are afraid that others will believe them, or are afraid that the aggressors will hurt or punish them for telling. It is important that when children tell parents that they dislike someone, they should inquisitively ask why.
Education
Educating children about inappropriate behavior is very pertinent. Understanding the difference between ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ are important lessons that can prevent and detect cases of child molestation. There are several well-known and successful programs that teach children self-protection skills and techniques, as age-appropriate. These programs also teach children about physical boundaries and about discerning types of touch. These programs are valuable to children. The skills learned by children in these programs have thwarted some abductions and sexual assaults. However, we must not fall into a trap of thinking that these skills are the only protection children need.
Monitoring
In an age in which technology in a key part of our society, it is important to be aware of how the internet can be a platform for child predators to find victims. Parents must be aware pedophiles have instant access to other predators worldwide via the internet. Many predators establish long-term “internet” relationships with potential victims, often disguising themselves with false identities. Social networking and chat rooms sites present an open platform for these types of situations. Prevention would mandate that parents/guardians monitor children’s usage of such sites and warn against posting personal information, such as telephone numbers and addresses. The internet also presents a platform for pedophiles to gather and grant support to one another concerning their horrid ways. This larger sense of community has caused pedophiles to become bolder in their actions.
Treatment for Aggressors
Another form of prevention is to treat predators. Pedophilia generally is treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. The therapy may be prescribed alone or in combination with medication. Some examples of medications which have been used include anti-androgens and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Relapse prevention is also emphasized. However, the outlook for successful treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with Pedophilia is guarded.
Discussion
The topic of child molestation is one of much importance. An alarming rate of children are molested and abused on a consistent basis. The effects of such heinous activity are so immense and they follow the victim, on occasion, a lifetime. Parents and guardians should be very observant of key behavioral patterns that would indicate abuse, in addition to examine physical changes that are consistent with sexual abuse. Physical evidence of abuse is rare, but may include bladder and urinary infections, scratching and painful genitals (especially during urination), torn, stained or bloody undergarments.
The discussion of child molestation must include a means of prevention. This study has shown that the effects of child molestation are extremely immense and long lasting. The treatment of the victim must include strategies for future protection. Education is a key contributor to the prevention and resolution to eliminating the mass spread of this illegal activity. The value of teaching children to say no cannot be underestimated. Specific protective strategies involving family members and helping professionals need to be developed in intra-familial sexual abuse situations.
Even in an age where the internet has provided a new platform to share info between predators and a means for predators to seek out new victims, this behavior can be contained. Parents should monitor the children’s usage of the internet, especially social networking sites, such as Facebook and Myspace. Child molestation is a problem that affects so many each year and requires immediate action.