Child Sexual Assault - Progression of Abuse

PROGRESSION OF ABUSE

Engagement Phase

•	The perpetrator will use his legitimate power position to exploit and dominate the child.
•	Low key, nonforcible manner, manipulating, "game" or fun activity.
•	Misrepresenting moral standards.

Sexual Interaction Phase

•	Perpetrator has crossed the line that the child interpreted as affection.
•	Hugs, kisses, lap sitting, and tickling turn into sexual activities.
•	Looking.
•	Auto stimulation or masturbation.
•	Kissing, fondling, stroking.
•	Oral penetration, digital.
•	Vaginal or anal penetration.
•	This phase may take months or years, time element being to the advantage of the perpetrator, it binds the child to the offender.

Secrecy Phase

•	Subtly coerces.
•	Keeping the "game" a secret.
•	Rewarded—attention, pleasure, love and affection, material.
•	Other factors contributing—loyalty, threats, physical harm.
•	The secrecy eliminates accountability on the offender’s part and allows the activities to continue.
•	Permits the perpetrator to feel important, powerful, and dominant, in control of a nonthreatening relationship.

Disclosure Phase

•	Accidentally or purposefully.
•	Observation by a third party.
•	Symptoms.
•	Purposeful disclosure is a cry for help, in which the child decides to tell.
•	Disclosure is a crisis in either case. All family members are affected.
•	Mother may often then collapse under guilt and/or pressure from the perpetrator.
•	Eventually she withdraws from participation in what transpires.
•	Siblings and other relatives feel self-protective, exhibit defensive reactions.
•	Child victim feels s/he will not be believed, protected, or helped, and that s/he is the only person this has ever happened to.

Suppression Phase

•	Attempts to suppress publicity, intervention, information.
•	Suppress the significance of the event or the reactions of symptoms.
•	Intense pressure is exerted.
•	Victim to deny what was disclosed.