SEXUAL ABUSE AS MITIGATION

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a seminar on sexual abuse in Lexington, presented by Carondelet Management Institute. This seminar was directed toward helping professionals in various disciplines who may encounter situations of sexual abuse or sexual abuse survivors. My intent in attending the seminar was to gain a deeper understanding of the signs and symptoms presented by survivors, to better identify individuals and/or families in which sexual abuse is present. This subtopic was thoroughly covered, as well as the dysfunctional dynamics that emerge in families with sexual abuse, unhealthy coping mechanisms of survivors, and treatment techniques with the highest success rates. For the purposes of a professional who is attempting to identify areas of mitigation, identification of the abuse survivor and perpetrator is the most important information to share. The following is a compilation of characteristics of the sexual abuse survivor:

  1. Fear of the dark and/or sleeping alone
  2. Nightmares
  3. Lack of physical self-care
  4. Eating disorders and related symptoms of such; distorted body image
  5. Alcoholism and drug abuse, or total abstinence
  6. Various phobias, such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia
  7. Striving for perfection that seems obsessive in nature
  8. Self-mutilation and self-destructiveness
  9. Depression
  10. Hysterical physical symptoms of illness
  11. Compulsive behaviors
  12. Blocking out memories of early years
  13. Mistrust of others
  14. "Victim" patterns in lifestyle/relationship choices
  15. Rigidity in thought processes
  16. Anger issues(rage disorders or total inability to express anger)
  17. Discrimination against race/gender of perpetrator
  18. Sexual issues in adult relationships
  19. Gynecological problems; physical/psychosomatic symptoms such as gastrointestinal concerns, headaches, or arthritis
  20. Minimization of childhood problems or complete denial of such problems
  21. Dissociative (formerly multiple personality) disorders
The characteristics identifying sexual abuse perpetrators are, unfortunately, much less specific. In fact, it was stressed throughout the seminar to be constantly aware that many unlikely individuals are revealed as perpetrators. With that in mind, the following is a descriptive profile of the sexual abuse perpetrator:
  1. Male or female
  2. Likely to be a sexual abuse survivor
  3. Substance abuser
  4. Charming demeanor
  5. Possibly a pillar of the community
  6. Likely from a sexually dysfunctional family system
  7. May be a pedophile
  8. May be a sex addict
  9. Denial
  10. Dissociation
  11. Rage issues
  12. Shame/guilt issues
  13. Exhibits antisocial personality traits/ disorder
Besides identifying characteristics of the survivor and perpetrator, a person actively searching for signs of sexual abuse should carefully seek signs of sexual abuse family dynamics when observing interactions amongst family members. This requires an understanding of trauma bonds, attachments and acquired roles of family members which are not present in a healthy family. An example of a traumatic bond that often develops in a sexually abusive household is a "surrogate spouse" bond between the perpetrator and victim; this dynamic presents as an unusually close relationship between the perpetrator and victim, with the child victim practically replacing the role of the other parent or adult in the household.

An individual investigating a possibly sexually abusive situation should look for this type of unhealthy dynamic, as well as other unusual child roles, such as a child with decision-making power or control on a level with that of an adult parent.

The power of sexual abuse mitigation is obvious and apparent. It is one area in which no blame typically is placed upon the victim/survivor for the situation. Sexual abuse most often emerges as an issue in childhood, and most people would agree that children are not able to defend themselves against this type of abuse and manipulation. The variety and severity of problems sexual abuse creates for the adult survivor(and possible future perpetrator) can go a long way in explaining inappropriate, dysfunctional and destructive behavior that our clients often exhibit.

If any readers have a particular interest in this area and would like more information about sexual abuse and successful treatment, I would be happy to share the literature I received at the seminar.

VALERIE BRYAN
Capital Post-Conviction Branch
100 Fair Oaks Lane, Suite 301
Frankfort, KY 40601
Tel: (502) 564-3948
Fax: (502) 564-3949

The Advocate, Vol. 20, No. 2  (March 1998)
 

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