NCJ Number
148204
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1994) Pages: 139-153
Date Published
1994
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Using a sample of 223 2- to 5-year-old children, this study examined the contributions of age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status to differences in nonabused children's interactions with anatomical dolls.
Abstract
Interaction was measured through spontaneous undressing, exploration of genitals and breasts, touching genitals and breasts, kissing between dolls, kissing between doll and child, clear intercourse positioning, and suggestive intercourse positioning. Older children were less prone to manually explore the dolls, more prone to demonstrate doll-to- doll kissing, and more likely to simulate suggestive intercourse between the dolls. Black children were more likely to engage in these latter two behaviors than white children. While 2-year-old children were active in undressing and exploring the dolls, none displayed any sexualized behavior with the dolls. The only children who demonstrated clear intercourse positioning when the interviewer was present were low socioeconomic status black boys, ages 4 and 5. Displays such as these, among children who were not sexually abused, should caution professionals against treating such behaviors as indications of sexual abuse without exploring alternative ways a young child could obtain such knowledge. 7 tables and 20 references