Abstract
It is hypothesized that the closeness of the relationship between the perpetrator of sexual abuse and the victim will determine the number of instances of sexual abuse, the duration of the sexually abusive relationship, the level of coercion necessary to gain compliance, and how long it takes the victim to tell. Differences for cases where the perpetrator is the victim's father and married to the victim's mother, the victim's stepfather or victim's mother's live-in boyfriend, and the victim's noncustodial father are explored. It is argued that in the first case type, the relationship is the closest, the second case type falls in the middle, and in the third, the relationship is the most distant. Hypotheses regarding number of instances of sexual abuse, its duration, and the delay in telling are supported by the data.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, S.C., Bach, C.M., & Griffith, S. (1981).Psychological sequelae in intrafamilial victims of sexual assault and abuse. Paper presented at the Third International Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Faller, K.C. (1988).Child sexual abuse: Diagnosis, case managment, and treatment. New York: Columbia University Press.
Finkelhor, D. (1984).Child sexual abuse: New theory and research. New York: The Free Press.
Finkelhor, D. (1980). Sex among siblings.Archives of Sexual Behavior, 10; 171–194.
Finkelhor, D. (1979).Sexually victimized children. New York: The Free Press.
Gebhard, P., Gagnon, J., Pomeroy, W., & Christensen, C. (1965).Sex offenders: An analysis of types. New York: Harper and Row.
Groth, N. (1979).Men who rape: The psychology of the offender. New York: Plenum Press.
Kempe, R. S. & Kempe, C. H. (1984).The common secret: Sexual abuse of children and adolescents. New York: W. H. Freeman.
Landis, J.T. (1956). Experience of 500 children with adult's sexual deviance.Psychiatric Quarterly Supplement 30; 91–109.
MacFarlane, K. (1986) Child sexual abuse allegations in divorce proceedings. In K. MacFarlane and L. Richardson, (eds.),Sexual abuse of young children. (pp. 121–148). New York: The Guilford Press.
Mayer, A. (1985).Sexual abuse: Causes consequences, and treatment of incestuous and pedophilic acts. Holmes Beach, Fl: The Learning Press.
Mrazek, P.B., & Mrazek, D. (1981). The effects of child sexual abuse: Methodological considerations. In P. B. Mrazek and C. H. Kempe (Eds.),Sexually abused children and their families (pp. 235–245). New York: Pergamon Press.
Russell, D.E.H. (1983). The incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of female children.Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 7 (2); 133–146.
Russell, D.E.H. (1984). The prevalence and seriousness of incestuous abuse: Stepfathers vs. biological fathers.Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 8(1); 15–22.
Russell, D.E.H. (1986).The secret trauma: Incest in the lives of girls and women. New York: Basic Books Inc.
Sanford, L. (1988). Innovative approaches to child victims. Panel presented at the National Conference on the Victimization of Children, Anaheim, Calif.
Tufts New England Medical Center: Division of Child Psychiatry. (1984).Sexually exploited children: Service and research project. Final report for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Faller, K.C. The role relationship between victim and perpetrator as a predictor of characteristics of intrafamilial sexual abuse. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 6, 217–229 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755849
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755849