NCJ Number
164185
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1996) Pages: 21-45
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article reviews some of the empirical literature on children's play behavior with anatomically detailed (A/D) dolls.
Abstract
The author presents the substantive results of 17 A/D doll studies, critically evaluates the methodology used in A/D doll research, and suggests directions for future research. The issues examined in each study are study characteristics (objectives, interview format, and major results); characteristics of the children; and characteristics of the interviewer. The review addressed relevant literature over a 10-year period (1982-92). The results of the review generally show that play with the A/D dolls is not traumatizing nor do the dolls elicit sexual fantasies or sexualized play behavior among children who are assumed not to have a history of sexual abuse. Generally, children referred for assessment of sexual abuse showed more sexualized play than nonreferred children, although there were considerable variations in the magnitude of the differences across studies as well as what constitutes sexualized play. The limitations of existing studies are reviewed, and suggestions for future research are presented. The author also advises that the research studies reviewed may not reflect clinical use of the dolls; therefore, generalizations must be viewed with caution. 2 tables and 24 references