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Sexual Abuse of Children

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Sexual Abuse of Children Child sexual abuse occurs when an adult uses a child to satisfy their sexual urges (M. Campbell, personal communication, February 8, 2010). There is a “Progression of Sexual Abuse” when it comes to how an abuser chooses and then abuses their victim (Crosson-Tower, 2008, p. 125). The process begins with grooming, a term which implies how an abuser focuses on a specific child by giving them special attention in order to gain their trust (M. Campbell, personal communication, February 8, 2010). Once the perpetrator has the child’s trust, they are able to see how far the child’s comfort zone extends by trying out different things which progress, maybe just touching all the way to sexual intercourse. Sexual abuse then progresses to pressured and/or forced sex by making the child feel trapped within the abusive relationship (Crosson-Tower, 2008). The abuser traps the child by making them feel guilty or blackmailing them, threatening to hurt them or their family (M. Campbell, personal communication, February 8, 2010). Finally, secrecy, disclosure and suppression can either liberate the child, or further entrap them. With secrecy, the child keeps the abuse a secret, whether forcibly or on their own accord. Secrecy on the part of the child may be because they are being blackmailed or because they are afraid it is their fault. Despite disclosure of the abuse to an adult, sometimes the child’s cries for help are suppressed by the person they disclosed to. If a child’s disclosure of abuse is suppressed by an adult they trust, it can be more damaging than even the abuse itself (M. Campbell, personal communication, February 8, 2010).
The theory that can be most applicable to child sexual abuse would be social exchange theory, which states that relationships between individuals are influenced by how different people interact and negotiate with one

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