NCJ Number
136214
Journal
Journal of Sex Research Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1992) Pages: 131-139
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A case report is presented of a prepubertal girl who was a victim of rape and sibling incest and became an adolescent sexual offender. Current literature is reviewed to examine reasons why some abused persons become abusers.
Abstract
Carol's early childhood sexual experiences began with a rape at the age of eight and continued with frequent and intense sexual relations with an older brother. Her experiences of sibling incest experiences led to running away and promiscuity as she grew into adolescence. In addition to the early victimization, problematic female role modeling factors and a predisposition of family dynamics contributed to her move to sexual offending. Carol was born into a family where she needed to protect herself from a harsh, distant father and a depressed, unavailable mother. In this environment, Carol utilized the nurturing older sibling for support. Transgenerational issues led to a paternally dominated, maternally avoiding family. Family secrets, such as sibling intercourse, caused the family to draw closer together and socially isolate themselves from the outside world. Outside the family, Carol discovered that she could gain acceptance, attention, and power by being promiscuous. It is difficult to establish if the promiscuity was Carol's way of offending or if she was being sexually revictimized. 17 references