Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome
Child molestation happens no matter how wonderful of a parent one might be, or how much they have prepared their child for the risk. The reality of the statistics is that approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18, and it can affect any child regardless of age, gender, family income, culture, race, religion, physical appearance, sexuality, intellect, disability etc. Even when faced with the evidence, it is often difficult for people to believe that child sexual molestation happens, that children are abused without anyone finding out, or without them attempting to tell. There are many factors that predict the way a child reacts to being sexually assaulted. Some children react in ways that seem opposite of what is to be expected behaviors of a child who has been sexually abused. Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome identifies the five ‘stages’ in abuse which highlight the difficulties children face. Understanding the five stages that most children go through during and after sexual molestation will help you to recognize the behaviors and risks, and if the worst should happen, be in a position to identify the abuse as quickly as possible. Sex abuse has increased 350% since 1980.
Secrecy is often the source of fear and the promise of safety; “If one does not tell, everything will be alright.” The secret takes on magical, monstrous proportions for the child. Children are often threatened to keep the secret, or made to believe if they do tell that no one will believe them. Victims can also fear they will get in trouble if they reveal the secret, or they may not know how to tell. Neither the victim, the offender, the family, the next generation of children in that family, nor the wellbeing of society as a whole can benefit from continuing secrecy and denial of ongoing sexual abuse. The average child never tells.
Children often experience symptoms of anxiety or...