The Effects of Sexual Abuse and Criminal Behavior

Introduction

Historical sexual abuse refers to the sexual exploitation of a child by another young person or by an adult. It often involves hugging, kissing, fondling, masturbation and/or intercourse, etc. through the use of threats, bribes, force or misrepresentation. It also includes representation of children as objects of sexual desire in pornography and the coercion of children into prostitution (UVIC, 1999: 1).

Until the 1970¡¦s, child abuse was thought to be rare, and only happening among the poor. Experts now are saying that child sexual abuse has always occurred and still exists in all classes of people. Increased public awareness has led to greater reporting of such crimes. From 1970 to 1990, child abuse reports increased more than other categories of neglect or abuse. Despite this gain, child sexual abuse continues to be the least under reported crime (Flinn, 1995: 1).

Results of this study on childhood sexual abuse and criminal behavior would be valuable in finding out if there is a correlation between childhood sexual abuse and adolescence to adulthood criminal behavior. This study could shed some light into why heinous actions by an adult figure could lead to future criminal actions by the child, now an adult. With this study, there may be a way to stop the abuse in the home or neighborhood before it begins, hence preventing a child from becoming an adult criminal.

Literature Review

Theoretical Analysis
Because children are like sponges, absorbing what is around them, they are more likely to repeat the actions of adult figures. Albert Bandura believed aggression reinforced by a family member was the most prominent source of behavior modeling. He reports that children use the same aggressive tactics that their parents illustrate when dealing with others. Children learn to act aggressive when they model their behavior after violent acts of adults, especially a family member (Isom, 1998: 2).