Directory

In the listing below, click on a year and issue number to see the articles in that publication.

2002 Number 2

Introduction: Confronting and Uncomfortable Reality

(Lucy Berliner, Harborview Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress)

'Sexual abuse' encompasses a broad range of forms of victimization, all of which are wrong and illegal. The term is used to describe situations that are as varied as sexual touching by a babysitter, sexual penetration by a parent, kidnapping by a stranger, and seduction of a teenager by a teacher.

Law Enforcement Perspective on the Compliant Child Victim

(Kenneth V. Lanning, FBI (Retired))

In this discussion, the term 'compliant' will be used to describe those children who cooperate in or “consent” to their sexual victimization. Because children cannot legally consent to having sex with adults, this compliance should not in any way alter the fact that they are victims of serious crimes.

A Prosecutor's Perspective on Compliant Child Victims

(Paul Stern, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Snohomish Co., Washington)

Ken Lanning has thoughtfully challenged child abuse professionals to address certain uncomfortable truths about a specific class of sexual assault victims. He urges more discussion about how we respond and react to these individuals. To the extent that we, as professionals, need to confront the reality of what he terms compliant victims, I agree completely. However, when it involves the reaction of the criminal justice system, the issues become very much more complicated.

A Therapist's Perspective on the Compliant Child Victim

(Jon R. Conte, Ph.D. University of Washington, Seattle, Washington)

This issue of the “compliant” child victim of sexual abuse brings into our awareness many difficult and uncomfortable aspects of current social policy and practice in our field. I am going to join this discussion primarily from the perspective of psychotherapy. A few introductory thoughts may set the context for how I see this complex issue.

A Prevention View of the Compliant Child Victim

(Cordelia Anderson, Sensibilities)

People want sexual violence prevention to be simple - one video, one theater piece, one big talk that will cover it all and help our children to be safe. Even with increased understanding that sexual violence needs a public health prevention response; even with increased awareness that it takes multiple interactive sessions that are reinforced over time to change behavior; and even with the clear understanding that messages need to be developmentally appropriate and relevant to the audience we’re trying to reach - we still tend to avoid the reality of uncomfortable ambiguities and touchy issues.

A Research Perspective on the Compliant Child Victim

(William N. Friedrich & Stephen P. Whiteside, Mayo Clinic, and Nicholas J. Talley, University of Sydney)

Fields of study evolve in the same manner as organisms. Two central principles are operative in this evolutionary process-differentiation and integration. This collection of papers represents a differentiating step. What is being differentiated is an increasingly sophisticated view on the complexity of sexual abuse.

Journal Highlights

(Ernestine C. Briggs, PhD)

The purpose of Journal Highlights is to alert readers to current literature on child abuse. Selected articles from journals representing the variety of disciplines reflected in APSAC's membership are presented in the form of an annotated bibliography.

APSAC Advisor 14(2): Full Issue

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