What Is Sexual Abuse? Sexually abusive behavior is defined as any sexual interaction between person(s) of any age that is perpetrated: (1) against the victim’s will; (2) without consent; or (3) in an aggressive, exploitative, manipulative, or threatening manner. (G. Ryan, 1997)

Normative Sexual Behaviors Finkelhor et.al., Study TC Johnson “Stoplight”

Green Light Behavior GREEN LIGHT BEHAVIOR (Expected, Normal Behavior) Most sexual behavior considered normal in childhood involves either periodic solitary activity or similar age peers or siblings, with no coercion, occurring within the cultural norms of society. These behaviors may still need limits or intervention by the foster parent but are not consider pathological. Playing doctor or house Occasional masturbation, no penetration Imitating adult seduction such as flirting or kissing Dirty works or jokes within cultural or peer group norm Mutual showing of body parts by peers Conversations with peers about reproduction and genitals

Yellow Light Behavior YELLOW LIGHT BEHAVIOR (Cause for Concern/Possible Intervention Needed) Preoccupation with sexual themes (especially sexually aggression) Sexually explicit conversation with peers Sexual innuendo/teasing/harassment/embarrassment of other Attempting to expose other’s genitals (e.g. pulling up skirts, pulling down pants) Sexual graffiti (especially chronic and or impacting others) Precocious sexual knowledge and/or activity Single occurrences of peeping, exposing, obscenities, pornographic interest. Preoccupation with masturbation Mutual masturbation/group masturbation Simulating foreplay with dolls, toys, peer with clothing on (petting, French kissing)

Red Light Behavior RED LIGHT BEHAVIOR. (Requires adult supervision, confrontation, and possible therapeutic intervention) Touching of genitals of others Using force to expose others genitals or body parts Sexually explicit conversations with significant age difference’ chronic obscenities Inducing fear/threats of force to coerce sexual activity Sexually explicit proposals/threats including written notes Repeated or chronic peeing/exposing/pornographic interest Compulsive masturbation/interrupting tasks to masturbate Masturbation by girls that includes penetration Simulating intercourse with dolls, peers, animals Oral, vaginal, anal penetration of children adults, animals dolls Force touching of genitals, genital injury or bleeding without accidental cause Simulating intercourse with peers with clothing off

Continuum of Sexual Behaviors in Children Toni Cavanaugh Johnson

GROUP ONE: Normal Sexual Exploration Characteristics: Children of all ages show normal, sexual behavior based on the discovery and development of their physical and sexual selves. This may include exploring feelings and genitals, interest in language related to sex, and giggling about bathroom related functions. Children involved in normal sexual exploration may do it solitarily or with friends of similar age and size. They more often explore with friends rather than siblings. These encounters are voluntarily, and often light-hearted, fun and silly. They do not often include feelings of deep shame, fear or anxiety. For teens, this often involves intense feelings for the opposite sex and sexual exploration in relationships. These behaviors may need limits, guidance or education, but are not considered abnormal or pathological.

GROUP TWO: Sexually Reactive Behaviors Characteristics: Group Two exhibits more sexual behaviors than Group One and has a preoccupation with sexuality. Many of these children have been abused or exposed to pornography and sexual stimulation. These children have trouble integrating and understanding such stimulation and express this confusion in increased sexual behavior. Sexually reactive children often feel deep shame guilt and anxiety about sexuality. Their behavior focuses mostly on themselves. When they involve other children, the difference in age in usually not great and force is not usually involved. These children respond well to therapy and education. When the anxiety is reduced or more age appropriate and less sexually stimulating environments are encouraged, the level of sexual behavior tends to decrease.

GROUP THREE: Extensive Mutual Sexual Behaviors Characteristics: These children often approach sexuality as just the way they play and are often more resistant to treatment than Group Two. These children use coercion and manipulation but rarely resort to violence. They are characteristically without emotional affect, meaning they neither have the lighthearted spontaneity of normal children nor the shame and guilt of the sexually reactive children. These children often have a history of severe abuse and abandonment. Sex is a way to relate to their peers. These children need an intensive and rigorous relearning of social skills and peer relationships. These children will also need intensive supervision in the home setting and around other children.

GROUP FOUR: Children Who Molest Characteristics: The children in this category go far beyond developmentally appropriate play. They are obsessed with sexual thoughts and engage in a full range of sexual behavior that becomes a pattern, rather than solitary incidents. These children need intensive and specialized treatment. These children often link sexual acting out to feelings of anger, rage, loneliness, or fear. Children with severe offending behaviors choose vulnerable and younger victims. They lack compassion with their victims and feel regret in getting caught, not with hurting another child. Most of these children have severe behavior problems at home and school and have few friends. For some of these children, their behavior borders on compulsive behavior. Compulsive behavior means the child has lost control over it and has a very difficult time not repeating actions, even when punished or when trying to stop. These children need therapy, strong intervention, combined at times with medication to control these impulses.

Five Sub-Types of Children with Problem Sexual Behaviors Pithers, et al., 1998b

Non-Disordered Females over-represented Fewest number of psychiatric disorders ADHD diagnosed in 24% Mixed history of maltreatment Acknowledge their own sexual abuse Physical Abuse relatively rare Children have fewest number of victims Sex acts rarely involve use of force Penetration relatively rare

Abuse Reactive Males over-represented High number of psychiatric diagnoses ADHD diagnoses far more common as well as conduct disorder diagnosis High level of maltreatment High number of sexual abusers (theirs) Moderate physical abuse Shortest time from own abuse to abusing others Child may penetrate victims Highest number of victims Aggression rarely used during abusive acts

Highly Traumatized Genders proportionately represented Highest number of psychiatric diagnoses Highest number of PTSD diagnoses ADHD diagnoses highly prevalent Extensive history of maltreatment Highest number of sexual abusers Highest number of physical abusers Highest total number of abusers Relatively young at first victimization Do not penetrate their victims

Rule Breakers Females over-represented Mixed psychiatric diagnoses Mixed history of maltreatment Acknowledge own sexual abuse Moderate physical abuse Longest time from abuse to abusing Aggression used to gain victim submission Penetration relatively rare

Sexually Aggressive Males over-represented Highest percentage of conduct-disorder diagnoses ADHD diagnoses also prevalent Seldom acknowledge own maltreatment Fewest sexual abusers Oldest children at time of onset Greatest percentage who penetrate victim Highest average number of penetrative acts Aggression used to gain victim submission

Juveniles (Adolescents) with Problem Sexual Behavior

Arrests for Forcible Rape: Adults vs. Juveniles (FBI, 2001)

Arrests for Other Sex Offenses: Adults vs. Juveniles (FBI, 2001)

Sexual abuse is significantly underreported –Research indicates that the majority of victims do not report their victimization Arrest data alone is misleading Additional discrepancies may exist due to different definitions of sexual abuse –Research design –State statutes –Victims’ perceptions Statistics can be based on: –Arrests –Adjudications/convictions –Offender disclosures –Victim reports/disclosures The Underestimate Problem

Perpetrators of Rape: Adults vs. Juveniles (Inclusive Estimates)

Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse: Adults vs. Juveniles (Inclusive Estimates)

How Do We Know if a Juvenile’s Sexual Behavior is Problematic? Age, power, size differential Secrecy vs. public displays Manipulation, bribery, trickery Level of intrusiveness Range of sexual behaviors Frequency and chronicity Use of force or violence Victim’s account

Adult vs. Juvenile Sex Offenders: Similarities and Differences

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders There are three useful typologies for adult offenders: the Knight-Prentky, The Groth Typology, and the FBI Typology. The Knight-Prentky typology, based on Groth’s work, has been statistically validated. There are no statistically valid typologies for juvenile sex offenders.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders It appears that most adult sex offenders have issues with on-going deviant fantasies with varying degrees of severity and that sexual deviance plays a major role in adult sexual offending behavior. Sexual deviance appears to exist within a minority of adolescents who sexually abuse.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Other criminal behaviors are more likely in adults than juveniles, but in either indicate an increased likelihood of future relapse behavior. A moderate number of adult offenders have a history of childhood sexual abuse. A high number of juveniles have a history of childhood sexual abuse.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Recent studies by Burton, Miller and Shill (2000) found empirical support that adolescent sexual abusers generally have a higher rate of having been sexually abused than non-sexually abusive youth. A youth was found to be 23 times more likely to be in the sexually abusive group if: he had been sexually abused by both men and woman, his perpetrator was related to him, a forceful MO was used, if the abuse occurred over several years, and if penetration occurred.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Veneziano, Veneziano and LeGrand (2000) that a high number of adolescent abusers repeat the abuse that was done to them. Findings indicated that sexually abusive youth tend to learn from and repeat the characteristics of their own abuse. Burton (2001) found youths were likely to abuse the same type of person who abused them (e.g., a youth sexually abused by a relative was almost 3 times more likely to abuse a relative than a youth who was not sexually abused by a relative and 4.5 times more likely to sexually abuse a neighbor if they had been sexually abused by a friend or neighbor, twice a likely to abuse a male if abused by a male, etc.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Knight (2001), following up on a Knight/Prentky study (1993) found that a lower general level of social competency, a higher frequency of anti-social behavior, more pervasive anger and a higher frequency of childhood sexual abuse appear to suggest a greater likelihood of continued offending behavior into adulthood. Limitations – among other problems, studies are on incarcerated or placed offenders so we do not know the degree to which they can be generalized.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Adult offenders clearly benefit from cognitive-behavioral interventions such as Relapse Prevention. While it is desirable that a treatment program offer additional treatment options, just utilizing R.P. will have an effect. Juveniles require a multi-systemic treatment response that may focus less on Relapse Prevention and more on other treatment areas.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders We now have a variety of valid methods to reasonably determine the risk and dangerousness of adult offenders, including use of actuarial devices, phallometry, the Abel Screen, polygraphy, and the Hare PCL- R. We have no actuarial devices for juveniles. Phallometry and polygraphy are usually not recommended except in very specific and controlled circumstances. The Abel Screen has not been shown to be effective, and the Hare should not be used with juveniles under 16.

Adult vs. Juvenile Offenders Adults require a treatment intervention that lasts about three years on average. Juveniles appear to benefit from a briefer period of treatment intervention – one to two years.

Exclusive focus on the problematic sexual behaviors or Labeling can be problematic given the lack of solid research

Labeling It is fairly rare that we categorize or label other types of juveniles and force them to maintain the label –juvenile physical assaulter, juvenile truant, juvenile carjacker, juvenile drug dealer However, there is a tendency to label these youth as juvenile sex offenders This produces a limited and narrow view of the juvenile and subsequently defines the juvenile –(“He did, therefore he is…and that’s all he is”)

It is more appropriate to utilize a response that is comprehensive, multisystemic, and holistic in nature.

A Multisystemic Response Sexual offending behaviors need to be addressed, but… A multitude of other areas (that can either increase or reduce risk) need to be addressed as well The focus should be holistic and comprehensive –individual –family –peers –school

Etiology of Juvenile Offending

How Adolescent Problem Sexual Behavior Has Been Explained: The Swing of the Pendulum... Failed to attend to juvenile offenders “Boys will be boys” “It’s just a phase” “Teenage boys’ hormones are raging” “It was only experimentation” Over-labeling, over pathologizing of juveniles with sexual behavior problems The young pedophile The budding sexual predator Perception of juveniles as mini-adult offenders who are destined to continue offending as adults –Based on retrospective studies of adult offenders

Etiological Considerations in Juvenile Sexual Offending Child maltreatment Exposure to pornography Poor impulse control Exposure to violence, aggressive role models Substance abuse Esteem deficits Attachment difficulties Social competency deficits Empathy deficits Emotional regulation difficulties Sexual victimization

Sexual Victimization to Perpetration Younger at time of victimization Were victimized more frequently Waited a longer period of time to disclose Perceived their families as having been less supportive of them (Hunter & Figueredo, 2000) –Suggests attachment and environmental issues may be etiologically significant

Juvenile Sexual Abuser Typologies (Hunter et al.)

Peer/Adult Victims Child Victims

Abusers of Peers/Adults Generally victimize females Most victims tend to be strangers or casual acquaintances, rather than family members Offense often occurs in conjunction with other crime More likely to commit offense in public areas More likely to use force, violence, or weapon and subsequently cause injury Appear more delinquent or conduct disordered

Abusers of Children Higher proportion of male victims Intra-familial victims more common Less violent or forceful, more manipulative and opportunistic Less emotionally indifferent/less antisocial Self-esteem and social competency deficits are common

Both Types High levels of academic difficulties, learning disabilities Mental health/behavioral health difficulties Impaired judgement and impulse control