NCJ Number
128723
Date Published
1984
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Adolescence is the pivotal period for intervention to prevent persons who were sexually abused as children from translating unresolved victimization consequences into sexually victimizing behaviors as adults.
Abstract
Groth suggests that as many as 80 percent of all adult sex offenders were sexually victimized as children. Showers, et al report that more than half of all sexual abuse of boys is perpetrated by teenagers against younger boys. Showers further argues that the boy victim becomes the next perpetrator so as to leave his own history of helplessness behind and assume the socially expected position of male control. Boys typically are not taught how to use acceptable coping mechanisms to deal with victimizing situations, so they are unlikely to resolve the trauma of victimization in a positive way. As one group of professionals focuses on the prevention and treatment of child abuse, and another group addresses the treatment and control of adult criminal behavior, both groups must view emerging adolescence as a transitional phase in these cycles of behavior. Unless the sexual victimizations of childhood are resolved constructively in adolescence, adult victimizing sexual behaviors are likely to follow. 5 references