NCJ Number
45158
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
COUNSELING APPROACHES ARE DISCUSSED FOR YOUNG VICTIMS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESSURED INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITY BY A PERSON WHO, THROUGH AGE OR POSITION OF AUTHORITY, HOLDS SOME POWER OVER THEM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE ACCESSORY-TO-SEX SYNDROME RESULTS FROM PRESSURED SEXUAL SITUATIONS, OFTEN INCESTUOUS, IN WHICH THE VICTIMS ARE INCAPABLE OF CONSENTING TO SEXUAL DEMANDS BECAUSE OF THEIR LEVEL OF COGNITIVE OR PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT. IN THESE SITUATIONS, THE VICTIMS' EMOTIONAL REACTIONS STEM FROM HAVING BEEN PUSHED INTO SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND, IN CASES WHERE THEY ARE PLEDGED TO SECRECY, FROM THE ADDED TENSION OF KEEPING THE SECRET. SUCH VICTIMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OFFENSE IN A SECONDARY WAY BY AGREEING TO GO ALONG WITH IT. THE PRESSURE AND THE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE MAKE SUCH CASES DIFFERENT FROM RAPE, IN WHICH SEX IS FORCED ON THE VICTIM AND IS CLEARLY AGAINST THE VICTIM'S WILL. THE APPROACHES USED BY OFFENDERS TO GAIN ACCESS TO CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS IN PRESSURED SEX SITUATIONS ARE OUTLINED. THE TYPES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY USUALLY INVOLVED IN SUCH SITUATIONS AND THE VICTIMS' REACTIONS ARE DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED IN CASE EXAMPLES. THE FEARS THAT BIND YOUNG VICTIMS TO SECRECY ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE SECRET OFTEN IS DISCLOSED ARE DESCRIBED. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT MAY INDICATE A CHILD IS HARBORING A SECRET ABOUT A PRESSURED SEXUAL ENCOUNTER ARE NOTED. GUIDELINES ARE OFFERED FOR DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF THE ENCOUNTER ON THE CHILD, AND WAYS OF PREDICTING THE PROBLEM AREAS THAT MAY BE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR THE VICTIM TO RESOLVE ARE SUGGESTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.