““Should children Should children be believed when be believed when

they disclose they disclose sexual abuse?”sexual abuse?”

Katrina BelliveauKatrina Belliveau

Background InformationBackground Information

Sexual abuse is often a “hidden crime” Sexual abuse is often a “hidden crime” (often goes unreported)(often goes unreported)

1 in 10 abuse investigations in Canada 1 in 10 abuse investigations in Canada involves suspected sexual abuse of involves suspected sexual abuse of childrenchildren

Child often the only witness to the Child often the only witness to the crimecrime

Person accused is often a family Person accused is often a family member or someone close to the childmember or someone close to the child

Impact of allegationsImpact of allegations

Families torn apart by false Families torn apart by false allegations allegations

Children (re-)victimized by having to Children (re-)victimized by having to testify against an accusertestify against an accuser

Wrongful convictionsWrongful convictions

ControversyControversy

Some say that any disclosure of Some say that any disclosure of sexual abuse by a child should be sexual abuse by a child should be treated as validtreated as valid

Others contend that children rarely Others contend that children rarely disclose sexual abuse on their own disclose sexual abuse on their own and any disclosure should be treated and any disclosure should be treated as “highly suspect”as “highly suspect”

Supporting ViewsSupporting Views

Children can be resistant to Children can be resistant to suggestionsuggestion

Children lack the sexual experience Children lack the sexual experience needed to make up stories of abuseneeded to make up stories of abuse

Disclosure of sexual abuse of any Disclosure of sexual abuse of any kind should be taken seriously, no kind should be taken seriously, no matter what circumstance leads to matter what circumstance leads to the disclosurethe disclosure

Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome Accommodation Syndrome

(CSAAS)(CSAAS)Summit (1983):Summit (1983): 5 component model for how children disclose 5 component model for how children disclose

sexual abuse in stages:sexual abuse in stages:1)secrecy 1)secrecy 2)helplessness2)helplessness3)entrapment and accomodation3)entrapment and accomodation4)delayed, conflicted and unconvincing disclosures4)delayed, conflicted and unconvincing disclosures5)retraction of disclosure5)retraction of disclosure

-Disclosure can have a dramatic start or be a slow -Disclosure can have a dramatic start or be a slow gradual processgradual process

(as cited in London et al.)(as cited in London et al.)

ResearchResearch

Sauzier (1989):Sauzier (1989):

Longitudinal study on 156 Longitudinal study on 156 (documented) sexually abused (documented) sexually abused children:children:

-looked at both effects and types of -looked at both effects and types of disclosure from childrendisclosure from children

FindingsFindings

56% voluntary disclosures56% voluntary disclosures More likely to disclose to a parent More likely to disclose to a parent

(except in cases where parent was (except in cases where parent was perpetrator)perpetrator)

Accidental disclosure (involuntary Accidental disclosure (involuntary disclosure) puts less stress on disclosure) puts less stress on children than voluntary disclosure children than voluntary disclosure

ResearchResearch Greenstock & Pipe (1999)Greenstock & Pipe (1999) Peer support decreases suggestibility in childrenPeer support decreases suggestibility in children 48 children 5-10 years of age48 children 5-10 years of age School dental visit/invasive procedureSchool dental visit/invasive procedure Interviewed 4 days laterInterviewed 4 days later Children interviewed alone, with an informed peer, Children interviewed alone, with an informed peer,

and an uninformed peer (no dental visit)and an uninformed peer (no dental visit) Younger children (5-7) were less likely to be misled Younger children (5-7) were less likely to be misled

by incorrect information when interviewed in the by incorrect information when interviewed in the presence of a peer (informed or uninformed), even presence of a peer (informed or uninformed), even when the peer contributed nothing to the when the peer contributed nothing to the conversationconversation

Evidence that even highly suggestible children Evidence that even highly suggestible children (preschool age) can resist suggestion in some cases(preschool age) can resist suggestion in some cases

Reasons For False Reasons For False disclosuredisclosure

Custody battlesCustody battles Parent/authority figure can influence Parent/authority figure can influence

the childthe child Suggestive/leading questions can lead Suggestive/leading questions can lead

to implanted memories/false to implanted memories/false allegationsallegations

Children often make up stories Children often make up stories (fantasy vs. reality) especially (fantasy vs. reality) especially younger onesyounger ones

Research for Research for suggestibilitysuggestibility

Poole & Lindsay (2001)Poole & Lindsay (2001)

3-8-year olds3-8-year olds Participation in science experimentsParticipation in science experiments Parents read them a story Parents read them a story

(experienced/non-experienced events(experienced/non-experienced events follow up interview by researchers:follow up interview by researchers: despite age reported the non-experienced despite age reported the non-experienced

events when given open-ended questionsevents when given open-ended questions Importance of exposure to misinformation Importance of exposure to misinformation

from authority figuresfrom authority figures

SuggestibilitySuggestibilitySaywitz, Goodman, Nicholas, and Moan (1991):Saywitz, Goodman, Nicholas, and Moan (1991):

Questioned 5-7 year old girls about details of a medical examQuestioned 5-7 year old girls about details of a medical exam

Regular medical examination/genital examinationRegular medical examination/genital examination

Open-ended, direct, and misleading questions about the touching from Open-ended, direct, and misleading questions about the touching from examinations and to demonstrate using dollsexaminations and to demonstrate using dolls

Immediate testing and three month delayImmediate testing and three month delay

-children questioned immediately after and three months later-children questioned immediately after and three months later

Results showedResults showed

As cited in Bruck et al. (1998).As cited in Bruck et al. (1998).

Suggestibility Suggestibility

Results indicated that in immediate Results indicated that in immediate recall and after a 3 month delay:recall and after a 3 month delay:

-Children make errors in omission -Children make errors in omission (leave out events) and commission (leave out events) and commission (falsely claim to have experienced an (falsely claim to have experienced an event)event)

Interview TechniquesInterview Techniques

Bruck et al. (1998):Bruck et al. (1998): BiasesBiases Stereotype Inducement (e.g. “did the bad Stereotype Inducement (e.g. “did the bad

man do that?”)man do that?”) Atmosphere of the interview (pressure on Atmosphere of the interview (pressure on

the child; lack of a neutral environment)the child; lack of a neutral environment) Use of anatomically correct dolls (these Use of anatomically correct dolls (these

are also highly debated)are also highly debated) Repeated questioningRepeated questioning Context of disclosure Context of disclosure

Voluntary disclosure Voluntary disclosure “suspect”“suspect”

Research suggests that children rarely Research suggests that children rarely disclose sexual abusedisclose sexual abuse

Paine & Hansen (2001):Paine & Hansen (2001):Adult self-report data from an archival study Adult self-report data from an archival study

revealed:revealed:-50% of participants who experienced -50% of participants who experienced

attempted sexual activity or non-contact attempted sexual activity or non-contact sexual experiences did not disclosesexual experiences did not disclose

-54% of children subjected to intercourse did-54% of children subjected to intercourse did not disclosenot disclose-inverse relationship between disclosure and -inverse relationship between disclosure and

severity of abuse severity of abuse

ResearchResearch

Sorenson & Snow (1991)Sorenson & Snow (1991)

Adult self-report dataAdult self-report data Nearly 75% of abuse victims initially Nearly 75% of abuse victims initially

deny abusedeny abuse 75% did not disclose within one year of 75% did not disclose within one year of

abuseabuse 18% waited more than 5 years to 18% waited more than 5 years to

disclosedisclose 7-10% recant confession due to pressure7-10% recant confession due to pressure

Age differencesAge differences

Ceci & Bruck (1993)Ceci & Bruck (1993)

Meta-analysis:Meta-analysis: 88% of the studies (14/16)88% of the studies (14/16) Preschoolers are the most suggestiblePreschoolers are the most suggestible Even older children can be vulnerable to Even older children can be vulnerable to

suggestive interviewing techniquessuggestive interviewing techniques Older children do not reach “adult level” Older children do not reach “adult level”

of resistance to suggestion until early of resistance to suggestion until early adolescenceadolescence

Credibility of childrenCredibility of children

Bruck et al. (1998): Bruck et al. (1998):

Need for:Need for:

-Unbiased neutral interviews-Unbiased neutral interviews

-Limit the number of interviews-Limit the number of interviews

-Avoid leading questions-Avoid leading questions

-Avoid bribes, threats-Avoid bribes, threats

-TRAINING-TRAINING

Important to consider:Important to consider:

Context in which the child disclosesContext in which the child discloses Corroborating evidence of any kindCorroborating evidence of any kind Need to increase the responsiveness Need to increase the responsiveness

of adults to children of adults to children

Limitations to ResearchLimitations to Research

Retrospective research: data from Retrospective research: data from adults in most casesadults in most cases

Longitudinal research is datedLongitudinal research is dated False denials: self-report data onlyFalse denials: self-report data only Children being looked at may have Children being looked at may have

made false allegations of abusemade false allegations of abuse

ConclusionsConclusions

Children need to be treated as a Children need to be treated as a “special population” when it comes to “special population” when it comes to sexual abuse allegationssexual abuse allegations

Need to increase community Need to increase community awareness awareness

Training for people who work with Training for people who work with childrenchildren

More longitudinal research is neededMore longitudinal research is needed

The legal systemThe legal system How do they handle this issue in the legal How do they handle this issue in the legal

system in Canada?system in Canada? Children treated as a “special population”Children treated as a “special population” Children can be accompanied by a “support Children can be accompanied by a “support

person” in courtperson” in court Awareness that children’s testimony is Awareness that children’s testimony is

vulnerable to suggestibility and influence from vulnerable to suggestibility and influence from adultsadults

Can no longer be cross-examined by the Can no longer be cross-examined by the accusedaccused

It is the law to report suspected sexual abuse It is the law to report suspected sexual abuse of childrenof children

Graduate Programs in Graduate Programs in Canada & USACanada & USA

Dr. Barry Trute or Dr. Diane Hiebert-MurphyDr. Barry Trute or Dr. Diane Hiebert-Murphy University of ManitobaUniversity of Manitobahttp://www.familystrengths.ca/team.html#Contacthttp://www.familystrengths.ca/team.html#ContactDrBarryTruteDrBarryTrute

Sandy K. WurtelSandy K. Wurtele, Associate Professor, Ph.D., e, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Alabama, 1983. Clinical interests: University of Alabama, 1983. Clinical interests: Child sexual abuseChild sexual abuse and pediatric and pediatric psychologypsychology. . Therapy orientation: Behavioral.Therapy orientation: Behavioral.

Janis Wolak (Crimes against Children Janis Wolak (Crimes against Children ResearchResearch Center, University of New Hampshire, US) Center, University of New Hampshire, US)

Discussion Questions:Discussion Questions:

““What would you do if a child What would you do if a child disclosed to you that they were disclosed to you that they were being sexually abused?”being sexually abused?”

““What factors would you consider in What factors would you consider in deciding on a course of action?” deciding on a course of action?”

ReferencesReferencesBruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Hembrooke, H. (1998). Reliability and credibility of Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Hembrooke, H. (1998). Reliability and credibility of

young children’s reports: From research to policy and practice. young children’s reports: From research to policy and practice. American American Psychologist, 53 Psychologist, 53 (2), 136-151.(2), 136-151.

Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Hembrooke, H. (2002). The nature of children’s true Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Hembrooke, H. (2002). The nature of children’s true and false narratives. and false narratives. Developmental Review, 22Developmental Review, 22 (3), 520-554. (3), 520-554.

Goodman, G.S., Taub, E. P. (1992). Goodman, G.S., Taub, E. P. (1992). Monographs of the Society for Research Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development,in Child Development, 57(2). 57(2).

Greenstock & Pipe (1999). Are two heads better than one? Peer support and Greenstock & Pipe (1999). Are two heads better than one? Peer support and children’s eyewitness reports. children’s eyewitness reports. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11 Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11 (6), 461-(6), 461-483.483.

London, K., Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Shuman, D. W. (2005). Disclosure of London, K., Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Shuman, D. W. (2005). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: What does the research tell us about the ways that child sexual abuse: What does the research tell us about the ways that children tell? children tell? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11 Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11 (1), 194-226. (1), 194-226.

Paine, M. L., & Hansen, D. J. (2002). Factors influencing children to self-Paine, M. L., & Hansen, D. J. (2002). Factors influencing children to self-disclose sexual abuse. disclose sexual abuse. Clinical Psychology Review, 22, 271-295.Clinical Psychology Review, 22, 271-295.

Poole, D. A. & Lindsay, D. S. (2001). Children’s eyewitness reports after Poole, D. A. & Lindsay, D. S. (2001). Children’s eyewitness reports after exposure to misinformation from parents. exposure to misinformation from parents. JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology, 7 (1), 27-50.

Sauzier, M. (1989). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: For better or for worse. Sauzier, M. (1989). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: For better or for worse. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12 Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 12 (2), 455-469.(2), 455-469.