Deck 5: Child Sexual Abuse

Question 1

One of the most important factors in defining CSA is:

A) The cultural context of the abuse.
B) Whether the act was enjoyable.
C) Whether the victim was seductive.
D) The victim-perpetrator gender difference.

Answer 1

The cultural context of the abuse.

Question 2

Definitions of CSA do NOT necessarily include which one of the following:

A) Extrafamilial abuse and intrafamilial abuse
B) Male/female gender role restrictions
C) Age and maturational level of the perpetrator
D) Sexual and nonsexual contact and activities

Answer 2

Male/female gender role restrictions

Question 3

Which statement is TRUE about legal prohibitions against CSA?

A) The age of consent usually extends from 12 to 20 years of age.
B) Typical statutes define sexual contact as narrowly as possible.
C) Most states define incest as illegal regardless of the victim's age or consent.
D) It is rarely illegal to fondle a young child over his or her clothing.

Answer 3

Most states define incest as illegal regardless of the victim's age or consent.

Question 4

Rosenfeld et al. (1986; 1987) found that parents:

A) Rarely bathed with their children at any age.
B) Rarely permitted sons and daughters in the same bed.
C) Generally allowed children 7-11 years old see them undressed.
D) Generally allowed children 4-8 years to touch their genitals.

Question 5

What statement is probably TRUE about estimates of CSA?

A) Official records are underestimates of the actual incidence of CSA.
B) The gender gap in rates has broadened over the last 15 years.
C) Estimates are highly inflated because of false allegations.
D) Social changes are too minimal to increase the rates.

Question 6

Recent reports show that the percentage of child maltreatment reports actually involving CSA is:

A) 13%
B) 9%
C) 4%
D) 1%

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT one of the stated problems in estimating CSA?

A) Statistics often include duplicate reports.
B) Statistics fluctuate from time to time.
C) Substantiated cases are not equivalent across states.
D) Definitions are inconsistently employed.

Question 8

Which statement is TRUE about findings from the ACE study?

A) Self-report data come primarily from nonclinical populations.
B) At least 24% of women have experienced some form of sexual abuse.
C) The number of substantiated cases remains about the same over time.
D) Self-report data include even more underreporting than official estimates.

Question 9

Self-report data suggest that the prevalence of male CSA victims is:

A) 20%
B) 16%
C) 10%
D) 4%

Question 10

Which event is LEAST likely to have caused a true increase in CSA reports?

A) Increased numbers of false allegations.
B) Including teenagers to the category of perpetrators of abuse.
C) Legislative changes.
D) Increased public awareness.

Question 11

Which statement of CSA victims and their age is TRUE?

A) There are no reports of infant CSA.
B) The average age of victims is either 8-11 or 12-15.
C) The prepubescent age is the least vulnerable age.
D) Underreporting probably occurs more as the victim ages.

Question 12

Research on CSA has produced the most consistent findings on which potential risk factor?

A) Socioeconomic status
B) Social isolation
C) Ethnicity
D) Gender

Question 13

Which statement about child CSA perpetrators is TRUE?

A) Although unreported, females are almost as likely as males to be perpetrators.
B) Population surveys show that adolescents are a significant group of offenders.
C) Male perpetrators are better at disguising CSA than female perpetrators.
D) Individuals who are unknown by the child victim constitute the largest group of perpetrators.

Question 14

Regarding the age of CSA perpetrators:

A) Men over 50 are especially prone to molest children, the younger the better.
B) Older studies detected more adolescent perpetrators than newer studies.
C) The percentages of male and female offenders between the ages of 31-40 are almost equivalent.
D) A male-female perpetrator age discrepancy widens dramatically with increasing age.

Question 15

Which statement is TRUE about gender and CSA perpetrators?

A) About 40% of perpetrators in reported CSA cases are female.
B) More women than men admit sexually molesting a child.
C) About 43% of CSA perpetrators who molest children are 20 or younger.
D) Female perpetration of CSA may be more common than data suggest.

Question 16

Regarding female rather than male perpetrators of CSA, which is TRUE?

A) Female perpetrators are those that older men find especially unattractive.
B) Women are accomplices of male perpetrators about 73% of the time.
C) Female perpetration is most likely over-reported.
D) Women's abuse may go unnoticed because of routine child care.

Question 17

Which statement is FALSE about female CSA perpetrators?

A) They often have had troubled childhoods.
B) They may display a need for nurturance and control.
C) They have distorted sexual values, beliefs, and knowledge.
D) CSA perpetration typifies most female psychiatric conditions.

Question 18

Which statement is TRUE about relationships between CSA victims and perpetrators?

A) About 15% of the perpetrators are known to the child.
B) About 50% of the perpetrators are strangers.
C) Most perpetrators are persons familiar to the child.
D) The types of sexual abuse do not significantly differ by gender of perpetrator.

Question 19

Knowledge about the types of CSA reported tends to vary by the:

A) Number of adult males in the population.
B) Number of young males in the population.
C) Type of sample studied.
D) Number of questions posed.

Question 20

Perpetrators report using all of the following "grooming" tactics EXCEPT:

A) Misrepresenting moral standards to potential victims.
B) Conditioning the child through rewards (e.g., toys) and punishments (e.g., threats).
C) Threatening self-harm to make the potential victim feel guilty.
D) Using verbal or physical intimidation.

Question 21

Victims in the Berliner & Conte (1990) study said that one of the most common "grooming" techniques was to:

A) Either engage the children in group sexual rituals or group "games."
B) Either claim the behavior was not sexual or that it was acceptable.
C) Expose the child to home videos of sibling sexual abuse.
D) Obtain the cooperation of another family member such as an older brother.

Question 22

The technique undertaken by perpetrators to prepare children for CSA is called:

A) Vicarious learning.
B) Mental rehearsal.
C) Grooming.
D) Sex preps.

Question 23

Perpetrators of CSA report that they select children who are:

A) Social and outgoing.
B) Academically advanced.
C) Vulnerable in some way.
D) From small families.

Question 24

Which statement is TRUE in regard to child pornography?

A) The long arm of Uncle Sam reaches across the globe to curtail pornography.
B) Child pornography has little effect on children's ideas about sexuality.
C) The Internet will become the best tool for protecting children against pornographers.
D) Elimination of child pornography will require worldwide prohibitions.

Question 25

Which statement is FALSE about child prostitution?

A) A significant number of adult female prostitutes began work as children.
B) Males who became prostitutes had usually been raped as children.
C) Adolescent prostitutes are often runaways who have been maltreated.
D) Child prostitution is associated with child pornography.

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of adolescent prostitutes?

A) History of childhood maltreatment.
B) Parental alcohol or drug abuse.
C) Having to work at a young age.
D) Runaway behaviors.

Question 27

Which statement is TRUE about victims of CSA?

A) All victims exhibit at least one or two symptoms.
B) No single symptom or pattern of symptoms is present in all victims.
C) The developmental stage of the child is unrelated to the symptoms manifested.
D) Patterns of short-term and long-term effects do not overlap.

Question 28

Which are the two most commonly identified symptoms in sexually abused children?

A) Sexualized behavior and depression
B) Sexualized behavior and PTSD symptomatology
C) Sexualized behavior and high levels of empathy.
D) Sexualized behavior and eating disorders

Question 29

The most common long-term psychological consequence of CSA is?

A) Depression.
B) Humiliation.
C) Anger.
D) Dissociation.

Question 30

What percentage of CSA victims exhibits no symptoms at all in the short run?

A) 0% (all victims experience some symptoms)
B) 5%-10%
C) 20%-50%
D) 80%-90%

Question 31

Which statement is TRUE about CSA victims?

A) Most victims report that the experience was pleasurable.
B) Victim culpability and victim vulnerability are similar.
C) Most victims are targets because they have just passed through pubescence.
D) Those who are passive, quiet, trusting, and needy are at particular risk.

Question 32

The earliest explanations of CSA centered on the:

A) Child's developmental level of understanding.
B) Perpetrator's relationship with the victim.
C) Perpetrator-victim age discrepancy.
D) Child victim's culpability.

Question 33

Research on CSA offenders' characteristics has indicated that:

A) Over 95% of offenders were abused as children.
B) Only a minority is mentally ill.
C) A substantial number stop after several molestations.
D) The average age is 53 years.

Question 34

The procedure to determine whether CSA perpetrators exhibit deviant sexual arousal is called:

A) Penile plethysmography
B) Sexual myography
C) Penile electromyography
D) Sexual EMG

Question 35

Which of the following LEAST likely explains how a childhood history of CSA contributes to adult perpetration?

A) The perpetrator has learned that children can be used to gratify sexual urges.
B) Having felt powerless as a child, the perpetrator seeks power through CSA.
C) Having one's own needs subordinated to another reduces one's own ability to empathize.
D) The perpetrator learned that CSA was most pleasurable after a long grooming period.

Question 36

Perpetrators of CSA:

A) Generally exhibit a rare form of prosocial paranoia and schizoidal tendencies.
B) Are extended family molesters who show clear patterns of deviant sexual arousal.
C) Are men who often appear to rationalize their behavior through cognitive distortions.
D) Most often suffer from severe psychiatric, intellectual, and neurological problems.

Question 37

Regarding the intergenerational transmission of CSA, studies indicate that:

A) CSA victimization may contribute to adult perpetration.
B) Most CSA victims mature into adult perpetrators.
C) CSA is the most likely cause of adult perpetration.
D) CSA is a necessary but not sufficient cause of adult perpetration.

Question 38

Current family systems models of CSA hold that:

A) It is primarily the mother who is responsible for the occurrence of CSA in the family.
B) CSA tends to act as a destabilizing force in an already malfunctioning family.
C) One or more family members contribute to an environment that permits/encourages CSA.
D) CSA cannot occur in a family where the siblings are well-functioning and protective.

Question 39

Which was NOT mentioned in the text as a sociocultural factor contributing to CSA?

A) An overemphasis on same-sex sexual orientation.
B) Media depictions (e.g., girls like violent sex)
C) Social attitudes (e.g., patriarchy)
D) Child pornography

Question 40

Families of CSA victims exhibit significant levels of dysfunction in all areas EXCEPT:

A) Parental conflict and divorce.
B) Spouse abuse.
C) Emotional closeness
D) Excessive cohesion

Question 41

In terms of treatment of CSA victims, perpetrators, and families:

A) "Canned" treatments are limited but effective in specific ways.
B) Therapists have generally developed high levels of compassion for CSA perpetrators.
C) A large number of therapists are so distraught that they induce false memories.
D) Involved individuals are so diverse that individualized treatment is best.

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT one of the primary goals of treatment for CSA victims?

A) To reduce feelings of guilt and shame
B) To increase feelings of anger at the perpetrator
C) To alleviate symptoms of anxiety and fear
D) To confront issues of secrecy and stigmatization

Question 43

Which is TRUE of treatment outcomes for victims of CSA?

A) Multivariate designs show increased self-efficacy.
B) Descriptive data show positive nonsignificant results.
C) Correlational data indicate decreases in self-injurious behaviors.
D) Adult victims of CSA show a regression in positive functioning.

Question 44

Which statement is TRUE about medical treatments for CSA offenders?

A) The newest approaches focus on brain surgery in the region of the amygdala.
B) Anti-androgen agents are effective because they reduce lipid levels of steroids.
C) Chemical castration appears to be a very useful technique in reducing sex offenses.
D) Drug therapy may be beneficial but should be used in conjunction with other treatments.

Question 45

Reinforcing appropriate fantasies and diminishing fantasies involving children (through nonpleasurable masturbation after ejaculation) is an example of which type of treatment?

A) Physiological
B) Insight-oriented
C) Behavioral
D) Systems

Question 46

Among the treatment approaches designed for CSA offenders:

A) Cognitive/behavioral approaches are the most widely implemented.
B) Physiological approaches appear to be the most effective.
C) A particularly popular approach is insight-oriented therapy.
D) Family therapy provides the most support for the child victim.

Question 47

One solution to the problem of child maltreatment is to:

A) Make child maltreatment courses mandatory at the high school level.
B) Pass a number of new CSA laws as quickly as possible.
C) Stop insisting on such high standards for interventions based on empirical research.
D) Find ways to get broad community support for preventing child maltreatment.

Question 48

Which statement about CSA is FALSE?

A) The prevalence of false allegations seems high because of publicity about famous cases.
B) The use of anatomically correct dolls has frequently elicited erroneous information.
C) Young children can be influenced by therapists/parents repeatedly asking the same question.
D) Children often lack the knowledge or vocabulary to concoct false stories.

Question 49

In regard to the false memory debate, which statement is TRUE?

A) Studies have not produced confirmatory evidence of recovered memories of CSA.
B) Most experts in the field are in agreement about the legitimacy of repressed memories.
C) It would not be possible for a therapist to implant memories.
D) Repressed memories probably can be retrieved and implanted memories can occur.

Question 50

Table 4 proposes all of the following broad explanations as risk factors for CSA EXCEPT?

A) School risk factors
B) Child vulnerability risk factors
C) Sociocultural risk factors
D) Perpetrator risk factors
E) Family risk factors

Question 51

All of the following long-term effects of CSA were included as behavioral dysfunctions in Table 2 EXCEPT?

A) Eating disorders
B) Self-mutilation
C) Sexual anxiety
D) Substance abuse

Question 52

List and describe the four key components in defining CSA.

Question 53

How are cultural issues relevant to defining CSA?

Question 54

Describe the methods used to estimate the number of individuals who are sexually abused as children.

Question 55

What are the characteristics of the typical CSA victim?

Question 56

What are the characteristics of the typical CSA perpetrator?

Question 57

Describe the methods used by CSA perpetrators to initiate CSA.

Question 58

Describe the methods used by CSA perpetrators to maintain CSA.

Question 59

Describe both the short- and long-term effects associated with CSA.

Question 60

Discuss the debate over repressed memories and CSA.

Question 61

Describe the major models that attempt to explain the causes of CSA by focusing on the offender.

Question 62

What are the possible causative roles that family, society, and culture might play in CSA?

Question 63

Discuss the major goals of therapy for child victims of CSA.

Question 64

Discuss the types of interventions available for CSA perpetrators and indicate how effective these approaches appear to be.

Question 65

How could a cognitive-behavioral therapist help Dantrel reduce his tendency to molest children?

Question 66

Discuss adolescent CSA perpetrators.

Question 67

Compare family systems treatment approaches for victims with cognitive/behavioral approaches.

Question 68

What is the evidence for and against the proposition that children fabricate claims of CSA?

Question 69

What happens to research results on CSA when researchers use nonstandardized tests?

Question 70

What can parents do to diminish CSA abuse by Internet solicitations?

Question 71

What variables seem to be related to child prostitution?

Question 72

What are some of the common characteristics of female CSA perpetrators?

Question 73

Discuss the memory issues surrounding CSA and its disclosure.

Question 74

Discuss either the initial effects or the long-term effects of CSA.

Question 75

To what extent are chemical castration "treatments" for CSA perpetrators justified?

Question 76

What is your opinion about the Letourneau case: love or abuse?

Question 77

What do you think the government needs to do to diminish CSA?

Question 78

What do you think about system's treatment as opposed to cognitive/behavioral treatment?

Question 79

Do you think it would be easier to therapeutically assist a female or male perpetrator and why?

Question 80

Do you think that sex offenders can be "cured"?