Are there background and trigger factors that can contribute to an adult sexually abusing a child, for the first time, or in a relapse?

March 14, 2013 11:06 am ,

Yes. Upset feelings or low mood are often a precursor to negative behaviours, including child sex abuse.

 

These upsets usually relate to recent life stresses, losses, or setbacks which serve to arouse additional distress from a pool in memory of childhood trauma or need-frustration. Unwholesome thoughts, fantasies and desires which promise a quick-fix can flow out of such misery, and are sometimes acted upon.  That is to say, that in addition to current upsets, there are also background factors related to life experiences during childhood that contribute to the offender’s inappropriate acting-out. What happens is that the current stresses impinge on a person’s sensitivities or vulnerabilities that were acquired during childhood. With such a fusion of current and internal historical stresses, poor problem-solving can result.

 

Posted in: Are there background and trigger factors that can contribute to an adult sexually abusing a child, for the first time, or in a relapse?

What are some common examples of current and historical stresses?

March 14, 2013 11:05 am ,

(a) Recent losses or setbacks

  • Losses associated with relationships, friendships or work that diminish feelings of being loved, accepted, competent or worthy (eg. breaking up with a lover, losing a job, a friend moving away)
  • Increased involvement in caring for others
  • Feeling rejected or ignored

(b) Negative childhood experiences

  • Lack of parental affection and warmth
  • Fostered or institutional upbringing
  • Maternal separation or perceived abandonment
  • Excessive discipline
  • Excessive chores or responsibilities to look after others whilst still immature
  • Sexual victimisation or sexual contact with others whilst still a child
  • Witnessing conflict or violence at home
  • Witnessing sexual acts by others in real life or in the media
Posted in: What are some common examples of current and historical stresses?

How can we prevent abuse?

March 14, 2013 11:04 am ,
  • By encouraging an understanding that sexual abuse results from poor problem-solving in people who have vulnerabilities related to feeling lonely, unloved or rejected as a result of recent stresses and childhood experiences, or have developed a sexual addiction for the same reasons.
  • By recognising risk factors in ourselves, and asking for help before such problems start, or get out of hand.
  • By inoculating our children through an infusion of care, love and supervision. Boys and girls neglected of love, physical touch, care and attention are at greater risk of attracting the attention of potential abusers who will try to manipulate or seduce them for their own benefit. Particularly in the case of boys, if such deprived children are abused or engage in sexual activity whilst immature, they are at greater risk of perpetuating the abuse through their confusion of affection and sexuality, which springs from their combined affectional neglect and sexual experiences.
Posted in: How can we prevent abuse?

What can make me vulnerable to sexually abusing a child?

March 14, 2013 11:03 am ,

Some risk factors were described in the previous section, but a more complete list of relevant factors include the following:

  • Low esteem, difficulty relating with adults, or asserting oneself
  • Sensitivity to rejection
  • Still feel like a child emotionally – feeling not grown up
  • Felt unloved in childhood
  • Lack of physical touch or affection from parents in childhood
  • Participation in childhood sexual activity, either by having been victimised, or engaging in precocious sex as a child
  • Feeling more comfortable with children than adults, and developing special friendships with children
  • Having to have sex to feel loved
  • Using sex to recover from upsets or solve emotional problems
  • Viewing child pornography and masturbating to images
  • Collecting pornography, or being otherwise sexually preoccupied
  • Sexual arousal to children
  • Experiencing a confusion of love and sex
  • Not talking to others about your needs when feeling upset, lonely or unloved
  • Being preoccupied with wanting to show affection and love to children because no one showed you the love you wanted.
Posted in: What can make me vulnerable to sexually abusing a child?

What should I do if some of the above items relate to me?

March 14, 2013 10:59 am ,
  • Congratulate yourself for reading the list, and for developing your understanding of how emotional factors can contribute to poor problem-solving, and harmful actions. You are now better informed, so you are in an improved position to recognise a problem that might be brewing, or you become aware of experiences of stress or a loss in your life that produce emotional upsets in you.
  • Contact a psychologist or treatment agency in your area, from the Links and Community Resources Page or other specialist directory, and make an appointment to have a confidential discussion.
  • Ask for help to build up your coping skills with respect to your life stresses and problem-solving ability.
  • Set up a plan to go back for help if at any stage your wellbeing or mood deteriorates, or other risk factors come into prominence.
Posted in: What should I do if some of the above items relate to me?