NCJ Number
52971
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 61 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 203-213
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE ADVISABILITY OF PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH DISTURBED JUVENILES AS A THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUE AND POSSIBLE CONFLICTS WITH CHILD ABUSE PROVISIONS OF THE WEST GERMAN PENAL CODE ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
ARGUMENTS OF CERTAIN PEDAGOGUES THAT INTIMATE CONTACT WITH STUDENTS IS HARMLESS AND THAT LAWS AGAINST SUCH CONTACTS ARE OUTDATED CONTRADICT OF MANY STUDIES WHICH INDICATE THAT SUCH CONTACTS CAUSE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES IN CHILDREN, PREDISPOSE THEM TOWARD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ABUSIVE OVERTONES, INTRODUCE YOUNGSTERS TO SEXUAL ACTIVITIES EARLIER THAN THE NORM, AND ENCOURAGE INEQUALITY AND EXPLOITATION OF DEFENSELESS YOUTHS BECAUSE OF SUPERIOR ADULT POWER POSITIONS. THE THEORY OF BODY CONTACT IS BASED ON THE ESTABLISHED IMPORTANCE OF CONTACT BETWEEN MOTHER AND INFANT (WHICH DIMINISHES AS THE CHILD BECOMES OLDER) AND OF TOUCHING BETWEEN NURSING PERSONNEL AND MENTALLY DISTURBED OR AUTISTIC CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE. EIGHT CASES ILLUSTRATE HOW RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS, MOSTLY GIRLS, AND THEIR TEACHERS BEGIN AS INNOCENT HUGGING AND AFFECTION INTENDED TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF A NEGLECTED YOUNGSTER, THEN GRADUALLY BECOME MORE DECIDEDLY EROTIC CONTACTS WHICH EVENTUALLY PRODUCE STRONG GUILT FEELINGS. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS TECHNIQUE MAKES EDUCATORS VULNERABLE TO FALSE ACCUSATIONS OR REAL SEXUAL INVOLVEMENT WHILE POTENTIALLY INTERFERING WITH THE NORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS AND CREATING SOCIAL CONFUSION. UNTIL THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THE METHOD ARE BETTER UNDERSTOOD, IT MUST BE CONSIDERED UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS. TWENTY-EIGHT REFERENCES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)