Childhood Sexual Abuse And Memory Analysis

Studies have shown a clear correlation between childhood sexual assault (CSA) and negative sexual experiences later in life. Of relevance to the criminal justice system, these later forms of sexual victimization include sexual assault and sex work. The relationship between CSA and adverse sexual development is a correlation between two things, not a direct pathway from cause to effect. While survivors of sexual assault are at a higher risk of experiencing these later forms of victimization, this correlation represents a highly complex process involving a wide range of mediating factors and the intersections between them. Any experience of sexual assault is highly traumatic. Survivors of CSA, however, represent a unique population, because their trauma occurs near the start of the human developmental process and therefore alters all development thereafter.

Any victim of sexual abuse faces the chance of having their development impacted. This is especially true amongst children. Studies have proven that children who have been sexually abused by a female offender often have different developmental experiences (T.A. Gannon, 2008, p. 356). Mental illness is yet another impact that victims face. Many sexual abuse victims transpire into states of depression, rage, and suicide; they even have strained relationships with certain individuals (Denov, 2014, p.

The effects of childhood sexual abuse carry on with the children forever. To what extent and to what effect does abuse have on children during adulthood? What are the main issues that adults have been abused suffer from in adulthood? Do they have more of a physical issue with preforming with their partner in the bedroom or do they have more of a mental block due to their trauma? The world had been asking these questions for far too long and we need answers on how helping the children of our world. The questions that have been stated have been answered through the two articles that will be summarized below.

Avoidant behavior among victims of sexual abuse may be understood as attempts to cope with the chronic trauma. Among the dysfunctional activities associated with avoidance of abuse-specific memories and feelings are dissociation, substance abuse and various tension-reducing activities. Unfortunately, although sometimes immediately effective in reducing distress, avoidance and self-destructive methods of coping with child abuse experiences may lead ultimately to higher levels of lower self-esteem and greater feelings of guilt and anger.

An article written about the effects of sexual abuse in accordance with male victims, claims: “[t]hree perspectives of early family relationships and attachment theory, developmental psychopathology, and trauma theory provide a conceptual understanding as to why some victims are vulnerable to the effects of sexual abuse while others appear resilient to it.” Although the study's main objective is to understand the developmental effects of male CSA survivors, it also notes that the majority of the data collected about the psychological well being of the sample is also representative of female CSA survivors. In a similar study on the repercussions of sexual abuse in male victims, Scott Eastman depicts a table simply explaining the process of coping, or the problems tied to CSA. Much like a story line, there is a beginning a middle and an end after the initial incident, but not all survivors reach the stages of completion and often times face difficulties coping. In the middle stage of the process, is distraction, obsessive review. These are symptoms tied to PTSD, defined as a disorder which a traumatic event causes flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. It may reasonably be concluded that the obsessive thoughts are tied to PTSD because reviewing the traumatic experience may give the illusion of understanding to the survivor. In the final Stage of the process, following acceptance, is

This paper reviews several articles that discuss the lasting effects that sexual abuse can have on a child into their adult years. The articles agree that victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) will most likely suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or experience revictimization. This paper will also address the common forms of coping that victims of child sexual abuse take part in. Some research will touch on proper healing techniques for victims of CSA to receive.

Two of the consequences of sexual abuse that interest me the most is posttraumatic stress disorder and repressed memory. PTSD is known as an anxiety disorder that occurs in response to experiencing extreme stress (McCoy & Keen, 2014). The rates of PTSD vary among the type of sexual abuse that has occurred (McCoy & Keen, 2014). Victims of sexual abuse usually have to deal with PTSD. They have flashbacks of the terrible indicants, could happen randomly or be triggered by anything. Since the triggers could happen any time, it could prevent the person from prevent the person from being able to move on, which could stop them from living a successful and happy life. Another consequence of sexual abuse is repressed memory. Repressed memory is when the brain forces unacceptable thoughts, desires or memories into the unconscious (McCoy & Keen, 2014). This is done so the brain can protect itself. It takes a lot of energy for the brain to hide these memories and they can reappear caused by a trigger (McCoy & Keen, 2014). It makes

As many as one in three females have experienced sexual abuse by the age of 18 (Russell, 1986). Many survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) experience negative psychological symptoms (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; Kendall-Tackett, Williams, L. M., & Finkelhor, 1993). These women may later in life engage in relationships. The negative impact of sexual abuse could result in challenges faced by the relationship due to shame and difficulty with trust (Kochka & Carolan, 2002; MacIntosh & Johnson, 2008). CSA may also result in sexual challenges for the couple (Kochka & Carolan, 2002). Research has found that couples therapy can be of significance to the healing of the CSA survivor as well as functioning and growth in the relationship (Kochka &

The article that I read was on long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. The article covers many symptoms that survivors experience as a result of the abuse. Survivors are faced with trust issues, self-blame, and shame. Most of the sexual abuse is performed by someone the child trusts and loves. The effects are many and some that are abused even regress the abuse. Taking that first step to counseling or therapy is the start of the healing process.

Sexual abuse leaves many scars, creating feelings of guilt, anger, and fear that haunt survivors throughout their lives. These traumatic experiences can be detrimental to the victims’ sense of their own sexuality. Numerous individuals who have been abused have trouble pursuing adult relationships and engaging in sex as an adult. The abuse can color a person 's sexuality, preventing the survivor from pursuing a healthy sex life with a caring partner.  Sexual abuse is defined as unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006). An immediate reaction to individuals who have been sexually abused include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder (Corcoran & Walsh, 2006).

In another experiment, participants did surveys at baseline about self-report of childhood abuse. The National Death Index was used to keep track of the mortality data during the next 20 years. “Women who reported childhood emotional abuse were 22 percent more likely to die during the follow-up period than women who didn't report abuse. If they reported moderate physical abuse, they were 30 percent more likely to die. For severe physical abuse, the increased risk was 58 percent. The more types of abuse reported, the greater the risk of death during those 20 years.” stated by National Public Radio. These results suggest that not only is the abuse establish psychiatric consequences, but women who report childhood abuse also remain susceptible

This stance on repressed memory supports that sexual abuse taken place during childhood can’t be recalled at a later time. “During therapy, some psychotherapists may repeatedly suggest to clients that they might have been sexually abused during childhood. This suggestion could be blended with reality to create a false memory” (Matlin, 183). Thus, as we are socially pressured to create these scenarios, we will tie certain situations in our life with the suggested event to create our own perspective of this memory. As Geraerts and Smeets state “A number of psychologists have questioned the existence of repressed and recovered memories of trauma because of the lack of solid evidence for such memories” (1130). Furthermore, as these memories are created in our mind, we do not have witnesses or physical proof to support that this type of sexual abuse has actually happened to the child in

The first and most striking bit of evidence for dissociation out of William’s study is that out of 129 women with documented cases of sexual abuse, 38 percent had no recollection of the abuse 17 years later (Williams, 1994, p. 1167). The fact that the 129 cases were reported to a city hospital at the time the abuse occurred gives validity to the research because it takes the false memory debate out of the picture. As Williams (1994) stated, “The finding that such a high proportion, 38% of the women, did not tell the interviewer about the child sexual abuse that was documented in the hospital records from the 1970s was quite dramatic…this is a significant proportion of the sample” (p. 1170). Some may argue that this number could be flawed due to the possibility that some women did not want to tell the interviewer about the abuse; however, as stated by Williams (1994), “although some of these women may have simply decided not to tell the interviewers about the abuse, additional findings discussed later suggest that the majority of these women actually did not remember the abuse” (p. 1170). These additional findings include the willingness of subjects to disclose many other personal matters to their interviewer, including other experiences of childhood sexual or physical abuse; in fact, 68 percent of the women who did not recall the documented abuse reported other sexual assaults (Williams, 1994, p. 1170). The second piece of evidence for repression introduces a new support in line with Fryed’s theory of betrayal trauma, which is that recollection is higher in cases where the sexual abuse was committed by someone they

Finally, the author mentioned that at a young age of a child who was sexual abuse, once the child report this case to their parents and the family is supportive, it helps reduce lots of abuse related symptoms than a family who lacks emotional, trusting, or psychical support for the child. For instance, a child that was sexual abuse who grew up with a dysfunctional family, such as smoking, or a single parenting that child would be more likely to form an addiction to substance abuse drugs than family who trusted the child and supported the child. From my opinion, I believe that most of this sexual abuse related symptoms are linked with each other. For instance, the author mentioned anxiety, but anxiety can lead to anger and withdrawn from

Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported instances is far greater, because the children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Childhood sexual abuse is a traumatic experience affecting the lives of not only the victim, but those close to the victim as well. Many think there is only one person truly traumatized, but in fact, everyone involved is affected. The victim has to deal with their experience the rest of their lives. They may be more at risk for other mental issues as well, including depression. The family involved has to deal with its pain, often causing hardship and discord within the family. This is especially true