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Treating the Effects of Sexual Abuse on Children

NCJ Number
109569
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1987) Pages: 415-434
Author(s)
L Berliner; J R Wheeler
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The position taken in this article is that the effects of child sexual abuse can be understood as a combination of classically conditioned responses to traumatic stress and socially learned behavioral and cognitive responses to the abuse experience.
Abstract
This conceptualization is used to link existing psychological theory and research to therapeutic interventions. Strategies are proposed to alleviate anxiety, modify maladaptive beliefs and cognitions, restore or instate expectations of self-efficacy, and mitigate disturbed sexual attitudes or behaviors. Approximately 40 references. (Author abstract modified)