NCJ Number
233380
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: November - December 2010 Pages: 618-647
Date Published
December 2010
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This review provides available data regarding the prevalence for child sexual abuse myths, empirical research that refutes or confirms myth categories, and considerations of cultural contexts and implications.
Abstract
Child sexual abuse myths comprise incorrect beliefs regarding sexual abuse, victims, and perpetrators. Relations among myth acceptance, responses to disclosure, legal decisions, and victims' subsequent psychological and health outcomes underscore the importance of understanding child sexual abuse myths. Despite accurate knowledge regarding child sexual abuse among many professional and other individuals, child sexual abuse myths persist. A Google search produced 119 child sexual abuse myths, some with overlapping themes. Coders grouped myths into four categories: (a) minimizations or exaggerations of the extent of harm child sexual abuse poses, (b) denials of the extent of child sexual abuse, (c) diffusions of perpetrator blame, and (d) perpetrator stereotypes. (Published Abstracts)