Is the Child Victim of Sexual Abuse Telling the Truth? (From Out of Harm's Way: Readings on Child Sexual Abuse, Its Prevention and Treatment, P 54-65, 1986, Dawn C Haden, ed. -- See NCJ-107618)

• NCJ Number: 107623
• Author(s): K C Faller
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Oryx Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Reprinted from Child Abuse and Neglect, V 8 (1984), P 473-481

Annotation

Mental health professionals who are assessing a child's allegation of sexual abuse need to be aware both of the motives various parties have for being truthful or lying and the specific steps to take in conducting an evaluation.

Abstract

Victims place themselves in great jeopardy by telling the truth; they do not make up stories about abuse. In contrast, perpetrators have everything to lose if the child's story is believed. Mothers also have a great deal to lose if the victim's allegation is believed, especially in cases of father-daughter incest. The evaluator can differentiate a report of sexual abuse from a fantasy by considering the victim's ability to give very specific details about what took place, assuming that the victim is willing to discuss the incident. Before discussing sexual events, the interviewer needs to find out the names the child uses for private parts and use them in the questioning. Ways to corroborate the child's story include interviewing a relative or parent to whom the child reported the abuse; using play, pictures, or stories; assesing the child's sexual knowledge; finding out about the child's sexual behavior; and considering behaviors that suggest anxiety or a troubled mental state. However, nonsexual behavioral indicators should not be taken by themselves as a sign of sexual abuse. 16 references.