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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–5Cite as

Sexual Abuse

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Synonyms

Childhood sexual abuse; Childhood sexual victimization; Sexual trauma

Definition

Sexual abuse (SA) is defined by the involvement of a child in sexual activity the child cannot fully comprehend, for which the child is unable to give informed consent or is not developmentally prepared, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society. Sexual aggression endured in adulthood is termed sexual assault. Perpetrators of SA may be an adult or another child who by age or developmental stage is in a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power with the child. SA also includes the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in sexual activity or the sexual exploitation of a child (WHO 1999). In the USA, statutory rape laws assert that sexual activities with a minor under the age of consent (varies from 16 to 18) are illegal and therefore considered SA.

Introduction

Research and clinical work indicate that exposure to SA can result in a wide variety of immediate and long-lasting...

Keywords

  • Sexual Abuse (SA)
  • Orgasmic Disorder
  • Sexual Avoidance
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Poor Dyadic Adjustment

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Fig. 1

References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de sexologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Natacha Godbout, Cloé Canivet & Martine Hébert

  2. Unité de recherche et d’intervention sur le TRAuma et le CouplE, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Natacha Godbout

Authors
  1. Natacha Godbout
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  2. Cloé Canivet
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  3. Martine Hébert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natacha Godbout .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Dr. Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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Godbout, N., Canivet, C., Hébert, M. (2018). Sexual Abuse. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2486-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2486-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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Chapter History

  1. Latest

    Sexual Abuse
    Published:
    22 May 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2486-2

  2. Original

    Seuaxl Abuse
    Published:
    12 March 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2486-1