IMMEDIATE EFFECTS ON
THE CHILD VICTIM
THESE FIVE ISSUES ARE LIKELY
TO HAVE SOME EFFECT UPON SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THE IDENTITY
OF THE PERPETRATOR.
Damaged Goods Syndrome
| • |
No physical impairment. |
| • |
Presume physical injury. |
| • |
Suffer fear and anxiety. |
Guilt
| • |
Following disclosure. |
| • |
Consequence of the child feeling responsible for participation. |
| • |
Disclosing the "secret." |
| • |
Subsequent disruption of family. |
Fear
| • |
Fearful of the consequences. |
| • |
Fear of subsequent episodes, physical reprisals, being separated. |
Depression
| • |
Signs may be overt. |
| • |
Sad
or withdrawn. |
| • |
Masked by fatigue, illness or self-mutilation. |
Low Self-Esteem
| • |
Being different, alone, used, spoiled or
damaged. |
| • |
Feel helpless. |
| • |
Passive. |
| • |
Little self-esteem. |
|
• |
Interact poorly socially. |
| • |
Feel inferior. |
| • |
Derogatory terms. |
| • |
Initiate sexual relationships in an attempt to prove themselves worthy. |
IN INTRA-FAMILIAL CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE,
THE FOLLOWING ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
Anger, Hostility
| • |
Inwardly seething. |
| • |
Calm, passive outward. |
| • |
Angry at perpetrator and at those who failed to protect them. |
| • |
Anger is often repressed, manifested by depression or withdrawal. |
Inability to Trust
| • |
Degree of damage. |
| • |
Relationship of the perpetrator. |
| • |
Degree of pain or injury. |
| • |
Pleasure and advantages derived. |
| • |
The
amount of disruption. |
| • |
Positive and negative feelings for the perpetrator. |
| • |
Nurturing, presents and rewards. |
| • |
Disclosure can result in feelings or rejection, betrayal and alienation. |
| • |
Eroding the ability to trust. |
Role Confusion
| • |
Society defines the roles within a family in
a clear fashion. |
| • |
Confusion. |
| • |
Resentment, competition and alienation and poor communication. |
Reactions of Victims
| • |
Experienced in all degrees. |
| • |
Children do not immediately reject or hate someone from whom they have
derived security and feelings of affection. |
| • |
Most cases, however, the child has both positive and negative feelings for
the perpetrator. |
| • |
Guilt. |
Feelings of Anger Toward the Non-offending
Parent
| • |
Whether this parent consciously knew about
the sexual abuse or not is not significant. |
| • |
This anger may be more intense if the child did indeed tell the
non-offending parent about the abuse and was either not believed or ignored. |
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