Abstract
The term ‘victim’ can be used in relation to a number of different people involved in a case of child sexual abuse. The primary victim is the child who is directly subjected to sexually abusive activities. However, non-abusing parents, other children and family members who are not directly abused can be regarded as ‘co-victims’. They are subjected to targeting and grooming processes by the perpetrator. It will be remembered from the previous chapter that abusers have to overcome ‘external inhibitors’, usually parents, siblings and friends of the target child. The term ‘secondary victim’ can apply to the victim’s acquaintances and relatives, who are not directly groomed or manipulated by the perpetrator but who nonetheless suffer as a result of his or her activities. Professionals can sometimes become co-victims but are more often secondary victims. This chapter will discuss the difficulties and dilemmas of each of these groups.
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© 1994 Celia Doyle
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Doyle, C. (1994). Victim perspectives. In: Child Sexual Abuse. Therapy in Practice Series, vol 44. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3364-5_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-3364-5_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-56593-136-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-3364-5
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